More than 200 properties in Barnsley are now receiving energy efficiency upgrades and low carbon heating works through a project led by principal retrofit contractor Sustainable Building Services Ltd (UK) (SBS) in partnership with Barnsley Council and Berneslai Homes.
A minimum of 160 council-owned properties and 80 privately owned or rented properties are included in the £4.8m scheme, with capital funding coming from the government’s Warm Homes Social Housing Fund Wave 3 and Warm Homes Local Grant.
Through a property-by-property approach, appropriate energy efficiency measures for each property will be identified through retrofit assessments. The measures being installed will range from solid wall and cavity wall insulation through to smart heating controls and solar PV systems, and low carbon heating solutions such as air source heat pumps.
Daniel Owens, Regional Director at SBS, said: “We are excited to be working with a new client in Barnsley Council and Berneslai Homes, delivering retrofit decarbonisation works that will improve the lives of residents and strengthen communities. Far greater efficiency can be achieved through an area-based approach to schemes like this, in comparison to piecemeal improvements, and the benefits will be felt much sooner for hundreds of people living in these homes in Barnsley.
“There is a great responsibility that comes with working on schemes made possible through the government’s Warm Homes funding, and we are aiming to demonstrate how to effectively deliver the intended outcomes so that the number of area-based schemes continues to rise. Every decision we make reflects our commitment to improving homes and lives simultaneously — and residents will always form a central part of our process, making sure we can deliver works that positively improve their lives.”
SBS has been appointed via the Communities and Housing Investment Consortium’s (CHIC) Healthy Homes Framework for the scheme.
Councillor Robin Franklin, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture at Barnsley Council, commented: “It’s fantastic to be working with an experienced team with such a strong track record for delivering successful retrofit programmes across the country.
“It’s vital to make the available funding stretch as far as possible, but even more importantly the people living in the homes set for improvements need to be at the heart of the journey. That’s an area the SBS team really excels when delivering decarbonisation works and we know that working with them is the way to unlock the maximum benefit for Barnsley residents.
“We want all our residents to enjoy a life in good physical and mental health and living in a safe, warm home plays a big part in achieving this. It’s so important that our residents are able to live in a home that is affordable and sustainable and this funding will go a long way in achieving our ambitions for a sustainable and healthy Barnsley.
“I’d encourage our residents to get in touch with our Warm Homes team for more information about other help and support currently available to them.”
To find out more about SBS, visit https://www.sustainablebuildinguk.com/
