Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) is delighted to have been awarded funding from the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.
Homes in Kingsthorpe will benefit from this funding in the first stage of the ‘Northampton Whole House Retrofit’ project. NPH is working with energy and regeneration specialist ENGIE to deliver this stage of the project, which is targeting homes built in the early 20th Century. These homes are often expensive to heat and energy inefficient due to the way they are built.
Residents in eligible homes will enjoy improved insulation, ventilation, new windows and new heating systems. They will find their homes easier to heat; see a significant reduction in their energy bills; and issues with ventilation, damp and condensation will be improved. Once work is complete, the homes will be some of the most energy-efficient properties managed by NPH.
Work will begin in the Summer and residents will be able to stay in their homes during the works with minimal disruption.
Helen Town, Assistant Director for Asset Management and Development at NPH said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that we’ve received this funding to improve homes in Kingsthorpe. Around one in 10 families in Northampton experience fuel poverty, and we know that the residents living in these homes face high bills trying to heat their homes, especially in the colder months.
“This project will help to lower energy costs and will make their home environment much more comfortable all year round. We’re delighted to continue our partnership with ENGIE, who are committed to offering jobs, training and apprenticeships to local people.”
Stephen Batty, Head of Sustainability at ENGIE added: “We’re proud to be part of this pioneering project that will see homes transformed to become warmer, more energy-efficient and more affordable to heat, whilst contributing towards the Government’s strategy to achieving zero carbon by 2050.
“The UK’s housing stock currently contributes around 27% of total carbon emissions. With 80% of the houses in 2050 already built, it’s vital we look at solutions if we are to achieve the Government’s zero carbon ambitions, and we at ENGIE pride ourselves in leading the way on the zero carbon housing agenda.”
Feedback from residents and data from the new systems will be used to make sure the work has been effective. Researchers from the University of Northampton’s Institute for Social Innovation and Impact will be working with NPH to assess the impact on residents’ health and wellbeing. It is hoped this will mean the project can be extended to other homes across the town.
NPH has written to residents in eligible homes and is encouraging them to respond quickly as a limited number of homes can be signed up. For more information, go to Whole House Retrofit Project | Northampton Partnership Homes (nph.org.uk)
