Our customers could soon be benefitting from warmer, more energy-efficient homes thanks to an investment programme worth more than £2.1 million.
Working closely with Shropshire Council, Stafford Borough Council and South Staffordshire District Council, we have successfully bid for a share of the £179m fund set up by the Government’s Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Alongside £1.2m secured from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, we are investing a further £900,000 in improving some of our existing housing stock, particularly older homes that were not built to today’s stringent energy-efficiency standards.
Daniel Timmis, Director of asset management at Housing Plus Group explained: “Each year we invest around £16m carrying out planned home improvements and this latest grant funding will provide a real boost to our plans to make our older homes warmer and more energy-efficient, to help customers reduce their energy bills.
“The social housing decarbonisation project concentrates on maximising a home’s long-term thermal efficiency, so we are looking at a range of measures to help us achieve this including wall and loft insulation, draught proofing, underfloor insulation, and improved heating systems.”
“Over the next few months, we will be carrying out surveys to establish the best solutions for our properties, with work expected to start on the improvements this year.”
Across the country, 69 bids have been successful in the first wave of the government’s social housing decarbonisation fund. Having worked with the three local authorities to submit the bids, Homes Plus will now lead on delivering projects in Staffordshire and Shropshire.
Homes with the lowest Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) ratings will be given priority for improvements, with an emphasis on ensuring any work will be sustainable.
“We are delighted to have secured this government funding as this investment will go a long way towards helping us meet a government requirement for all of our properties to meet energy efficiency standards of SAP band C by 2030 and net carbon zero by 2050.” added Daniel.