A housing association has created a new role for a new Green Funding Manager to unlock funding opportunities for retrofit work on its properties.
LiveWest, the largest housing association in the South West, has appointed Tim Wotton (pictured above) to the position after previously working as the housing association’s Partnership and Funding Manager.
The appointment comes as LiveWest launches its new environmental strategy which aims to beat the Government’s target of boosting the energy efficiency of its homes.
Tim will be responsible for drawing in funding to help the housing organisation achieve its aim of ensuring its existing homes reach an Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) rating of band C and above by 2028 — two years ahead of the proposed government target of 2030.
Managing over 38,000 homes across the region, LiveWest is one of the first housing associations in the country to have launched an environmental blueprint with measurable targets. LiveWest has also committed to delivering its new homes to EPC band high B/low A using an enhanced fabric first approach to ensure its homes outperform current building regulations, reducing energy demand and carbon emissions.
The increased EPC rating will support the government’s ambition for the nation to become carbon neutral by 2050 and runs alongside LiveWest’s core ambition to provide homes, support its customers and address fuel poverty.
Tim Wotton said: “I feel very fortunate to work for an organisation which places sustainability at its heart.
“LiveWest is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its activities to create a sustainable future for our customers, employees and our families and there is a real opportunity to drive the strategy forwards by accessing funding streams.
“With local councils declaring climate emergencies across the South West and, as the largest housing provider in this region, we wanted to renew our environmental commitments in order to embed sustainability across the organisation and to assist our local authority partners to achieve the goals outlined in their Climate Action Plans.
“For us, this is about improving the energy efficiency of our homes, either through building new sustainable properties or by refurbishing existing ones.
“We have set ourselves measurable targets, increasing the energy efficiency of our homes and promoting sustainable behaviour change for both customers and colleagues which all contribute to reducing carbon emissions.
“We aim to promote sustainable solutions working with our joint venture partners to help them to meet their needs but also to contribute to creating a low-carbon economy and support thriving, vibrant communities.
“These steps demonstrate our commitment to protecting the environment for today and the future.”
Nathan Cronk, Director of Asset Management for LiveWest, said: “I am delighted to welcome Tim into the team as we start to address how we meet our environmental targets.
“Tim’s role will be pivotal in helping us to tackle how we can reduce the running costs of our homes and how LiveWest will meet its challenging decarbonisation targets.”
Sustainable approaches run through the design of LiveWest’s offices with a purpose-built head office in Exeter connected to the local district heating network and constructed with energy efficiency in mind. Its award-winning office in Tolvaddon, Cornwall, has an air source heat pump system, while all three offices, including its newly-refurbished centre in Weston-super-Mare, have charging points for electric vehicles.
