A BARRHEAD company has landed a £119,000 contract to improve the energy efficiency of houses in the Lower Langlee area of Galashiels.

A. C. White & Co Ltd was one of four bidders for the work which is commissioned by Scottish Borders Council.

Earlier this year, the council successfully secured funding for the project from the Scottish Government’s 2017/18 Home Energy Efficiency Programme.

The funding acknowledged that Lower Langlee falls within the lowest percentage of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation and has some of the highest incidence of fuel poverty in the Borders.

The work will focus on those homes of a solid concrete wall construction which does not comply with current energy efficiency standards and will include the cladding of external walls with insulated render and the replacement of gutters, downpipes, soil and waste pipes.

Meanwhile, another contract awarded by the council last week will improve the energy efficiency of 359 privately-owned houses – built between 1950 and 1991 – in Galashiels, Selkirk, Hawick, Earlston, Kelso and Jedburgh.

The work involves the removal and replacement of insulation from existing cavities in single/two-storey, terraced and mid-terraced homes.

Additional measures, such as draught proofing and the fitting of thermostat radiator valves, are included in a contract worth £319,250.

“This will help reduce fuel costs and make a significant difference to the thermal comfort of the properties and give occupants effective control of heating systems,” states the procurement document.

The successful bidder is West Lothian-based Everwarm Ltd, one of three firms which submitted tenders for the contract.