Wakefield Council is committed to improving home energy efficiency standards and reducing fuel poverty in the District. This is demonstrated by the launch of the Wakefield Affordable Warmth Strategy 2007-2010 in March 2007, the Local Area Agreement Fuel Poverty Stretch Target and local housing strategies to achieve 'decent homes'. The Affordable Warmth Strategy is aimed at meeting the targets of eliminating fuel poverty by 2016 in-line with the Government's UK Fuel Poverty Strategy.

In order to create an accurate up to date picture of fuel poverty in the Wakefield District and monitor the progress of the Affordable Warmth Strategy the Council has commissioned the Centre for Sustainable Energy to do some detailed research. This research will act as a baseline from which the Affordable Warmth Strategy 2007-2010 progress will be measured against in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Starting in October 2006 and concluding in March 2007 the Centre for Sustainable Energy have analysed existing home energy efficiency data as well as surveying 10,000 households. The resulting research is the most up to date and one of the most detailed fuel poverty research studies ever produced.

Previously there was no reliable indication of the levels and location of fuel poverty in the Wakefield District. The information that was available was either out of date or not of the detail and accuracy sufficient to inform future policy and strategy development. The research will now help to guide future activity enabling resources to be targeted at the worst areas and the most vulnerable households.

The 2007 Fuel Poverty Research Report ia available under 'Downloads'