OLDHAM residents only have until the end of the month to apply for a free grant of up to £10,000 to make their homes warmer, reduce their energy bills, and help protect the environment.

People can apply online to find out if they are eligible to receive free new heating equipment, including air source heat pumps, solar panels, or external wall insulation among other sustainable retrofit options.

A total of 165 households across Greater Manchester are already on the road to transforming their energy bills but applications close at the end of February.

Installing solar panels to your home could save as much as £440 a year in energy bills alone and with the energy price cap increase being announced today, Thursday, residents have been urged to act.

The Green Homes Grant scheme, delivered by Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Cara Energy Performance Solutions and LMF Energy Services will close on June 30 and all installations must be completed by that date.

Qualifying homeowners must apply now to get their free home improvements and residents across all of the 10 Greater Manchester boroughs are being urged to apply before the end of February in order to benefit.

Eligible residents need to have a combined gross annual household income of £30,000 or less and live in a home with a low energy efficiency rating.

Qualifying applicants will be offered a home survey to determine the most suitable improvements for their homes, which must be completed by March 31.

GMCA lead for the Green City-Region, Cllr Neil Emmott, said: “This winter, we’ve already been battered by freezing temperatures and rising fuel costs, and we know energy bills are at the forefront of people’s minds.

"The Green Homes Grant is about helping homeowners across the city-region install measures that can reduce those pressures and make homes more comfortable and, at the same time, more environmentally friendly.

“Retrofitting homes with energy-saving upgrades isn’t just about cutting carbon emissions.

"It’s about helping to make properties cheaper to run in the long-term – ensuring the transition to a low-carbon economy is a fair one for everyone in Greater Manchester.

"This is a free grant that some members of the Greater Manchester community can take advantage of right now.

"I’d urge anybody who is eligible to apply for a Green Homes Grant and find out what difference it could make to your home and your energy bill.”

To apply contact Cara Energy Performance Solutions online at https://cara-eps.co.uk/greenhomesgrant or

LMF Energy Services https://lmfenergyservices.co.uk/the-green-homes-grant-scheme/