Rural housing associations secure over £1.5million to improve energy-efficiency of homes
Midlands Rural Housing has successfully secured over £1.5million in Wave 2.1 of the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), on behalf of Northamptonshire Rural Housing Association, Peak District Rural Housing Association and Warwickshire Rural Housing Association.
The Government’s Net Zero strategy aims to achieve Net Zero by 2050, with social housing providers required to achieve a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C for all homes by 2028. The SHDF will support the rural associations to improve the energy performance of their homes to ensure they meet this target.
Each association will match the amount received from the funding, bringing the total investment to over £3million, enabling them to upgrade 115 homes to meet, or exceed, EPC Band C.
The improvements will include:
- replacing inefficient heating systems with air source heat pumps
- installing solar panels which have battery-powered storage
- and increasing loft insulation and cavity wall insulation.
These retrofit measures, which will be delivered over two years, will make homes warmer, reduce the number of households living in fuel poverty and lower energy bills, improving the comfort, health and wellbeing of residents.
Delivering energy-efficient homes will also have a positive environmental impact by reducing carbon emissions for residents.
The associations recognise that customer experience in fundamental to the success of the project and will be increasing resources, including a dedicated surveyor and Tenant Liaison Officers to ensure residents are supported throughout the process and their needs are heard and acted on.
Midlands Rural Housing’s Managing Director, Richard Mugglestone, is looking forward to making a start on the upgrades:
“This funding gives us the opportunity to accelerate our commitment to improve the energy performance of our homes. We know the cost-of-living increase, especially high energy costs, is making life very difficult for many of our customers. This level of investment will improve the warmth and energy-efficiency of our lowest performing homes, cutting residents living costs and making a real difference to their lives.”
The rural association’s bids were part of a consortia bid submitted by Midlands Net Zero Hub. The Hub, which is accountable to Nottingham City Council, secured £47m in total to retrofit social homes in the Midlands, enabling providers to continue to create and regenerate sustainable homes, and build resilient, thriving communities in the region.
Published: 23.03.23
