It pays to top up your insulation The latest government guidelines recommend 270mm (11 ins) of loft insulation, which means if you live in a property that’s older than ten years of age, it’s probably ready for a top-up. www.nhbc.co.uk Your view counts Consultation events in January and February will help shape the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. details below Property 10 ways to keep the cold at bay Have your say on the Olympic Park’s future BY JESSICA ODUBAYO PEOPLE living and working in east London are being invited to have their say about the future of the area in and around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, by taking part in a public consultation. The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) has been working with local organisations, and has brought together existing plans developed by Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney and Waltham Forest councils, the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and the Greater London Authority, to create one local plan. The document sets out what development could happen in the area, and where and when such development could take place. The LLDC consultation invites people to make their views known on topics such as employment space, housing, the environment, transport, schools, health centres and community facilities in and around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Dennis Hone, chief executive of the LLDC, said: “Local people have always been at the heart of our plans and we want An artist’s impression of how the park could look in 2014 them to tell us about their vision for their neighbourhoods – new employment and business opportunities, exceptional new homes, schools, health and community facilities.” The consultation runs until February 7. ■ The LLDC will hold community consultation events to hear from people living around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. They are open to everyone and there is no need to book . A meeting to discuss plans for Hackney Wick and Fish Island will be held on Thursday, January 23 at 6.30pm at Gainsborough Community Primary School, Berkshire Road, Hackney. One focused on Bromleyby Bow, Pudding Mill Lane and Three Mills will take place on Tuesday, February 4 at 6.30pm at The House Mill, Three Mill Lane, Bromley-by-Bow. Go to www.londonlegacy. co.uk/the-local-plan to view the full document. Paper copies are available from Tower Hamlets Town Hall, at Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, Poplar. ON freezing winter days, homeowners can take steps to protect their homes and wallets from the effects of falling temperatures and rising energy bills. The NHBC (National House- Building Council), which sets standards for new homes, offers the following advice to keep your home cosy and draughtfree for the winter: ■ Look after your boiler – central heating boilers should be checked and serviced at least once a year by a Gas Safe registered engineer, to ensure they remain safe and efficient. If you live in an older property with a boiler older than ten years you may want to start thinking about having it replaced. ■ Reduce draughts – make sure that your house is free of draughts. Check the weatherstripping on your windows and seal your doors. At night, close your curtains to help prevent heat loss. ■ Open your curtains during daylight hours – to let the sun’s natural warmth in. ■ Bleed radiators – if you notice that a radiator is warm at the bottom but cool at the top, this could mean that there is air in the system. If you suspect air in the system then the radiator may require bleeding to ensure maximum efficiency of the heating system. ■ Top up your loft insulation – heat rises and, in an uninsulated home, a quarter of the heat is lost through the roof. Insulating your loft is a simple and effective way to reduce that waste and lower your heating bills. Many homes already have some loft insulation, but its effectiveness directly relates to its thickness and condition. ■ Turn down the thermostat – according to the Energy Saving Trust, turning down your room thermostat by one degree could save you about £65 a year. ■ Floor insulation – insulating under the floorboards on your ground floor could save you money. Although older properties are more likely to have suspended timber floors, these can be insulated, ideally with a fibrous material, such as wool. Newer homes will have a ground floor made of solid concrete. This can be insulated if it needs to be replaced, or can have rigid insulation laid on top. ■ Radiators are not washing lines – hanging clothes on radiators prevents heat getting to the rest of the room. ■ Do not heat empty rooms – only switch radiators on in rooms that you use, make sure you shut the doors though to keep the rest of the house warm. ■ Compare suppliers - comparing the various offers from energy companies can often help you identify a cheaper tariff. COVERING M25 RADIUS your local authority 789 Commercial Road, St Anne Street, Limehouse, London E14 7HG 3/5 YEARS LEASING OPTION • NO VOID PERIOD • NO MANAGEMENT FEE CASH INCENTIVE FOR LANDLORDS* 1, 2, 3, 4 bedroom flats/houses wanted • Monies paid instantly upon signing *T&C Applies. t 020 7538 8887 Lines open 24 hours info@metropolitanandcrown.com www.metropolitanandcrown.com Did you know? 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