Northwest housing association Onward Homes has partnered with a leading national contractor to deliver energy efficiency measures to 47 homes in Oldham.
Working with consultant Michael Dyson Associates Ltd, Onward has appointed Sustainable Building Services (SBS), a contractor that specialises in retrofit and net zero solutions, to deliver the retrofit programme in Oldham.
Onward secured £551,000 in funding for the scheme from a share of £37m awarded to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority from the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF). Onward is investing a further £1.61m to support the project, making the total project value over £2m.
SBS will install new windows and doors, positive input ventilation, loft, and wall insulation to help make Onward’s homes warmer, quieter, and more comfortable. These measures will help improve the energy efficiency of the homes that currently have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) below Band C.
SBS operates across the UK, with projects totalling more than £10m already completed in the Northwest alone. As part of the contract, SBS will invest £15,000 of social value back into the local community through local groups and projects.
Michael Dyson Associates Ltd is providing a range of consultancy services including Retrofit Assessor, Co-ordinator, Designer and Contract Administrator.
Sandy Livingstone, Executive Director of Property at Onward, said: “Our objective is to provide homes that are affordable to rent and live in. We have a target of retrofitting 1,000 homes across the Northwest by 2025.
“The funding we have received from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund supports this ambition and will improve the energy efficiency of several homes in Oldham will build on the momentum of our existing retrofit programme. Through this programme with SBS, we can help reduce carbon emissions, while ensuring that the people in our Oldham community have warmer, quieter, and comfortable homes for years to come.
“We’re committed to working with local partners to do more, SBS share this ethos and will be delivering these improvements whilst providing some social value for the community. We look forward to continued engagement with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and our customers as we begin to deliver this work with SBS this month.”
Gary Lawson, Managing Director at Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd, commented: “This project will see almost 50 families receive hugely beneficial decarbonisation measures that will transform both their homes and their quality of life. Not only will they see savings on energy bills, but they will also be more comfortable in their own homes and in turn, see both physical and mental wellbeing benefits too.
“We’re working to tackle the UK’s net zero goals one house at a time, and though the change each house makes to the planet pushes that journey forward, to residents, it’s also a world of difference. People are at the centre of our approach to decarbonisation, and we’re looking forward to working with Onward Homes on this scheme and in supporting the wider community too.”
Paul Tyrer, Director at Michael Dyson Associates Ltd, added: “Michael Dyson Associates Ltd looks forward to bringing our multi-disciplinary retrofit expertise to the project, working collaboratively alongside Sustainable Building Services, Onward Homes, and the residents to ensure delivery of the project in line with SHDF funding criteria.”
