believe housing is upgrading more than 1,700 homes to boost energy efficiency, support lower fuel bills, and improve living conditions for customers.
The housing association has received £7.8m from the Government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3, which it is match-funding to carry out a £15.6m programme of home energy improvements over the next three years.
On top of this, believe housing will increase its own investment to reach hundreds of additional homes each year.
Delivery partner RE:GEN Group is leading the work, focusing on homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating below C and which will benefit most from the upgrades.
Homes will receive various measures based on survey results, including loft and cavity wall insultation, improved ventilation, heating controls, energy-efficient lighting, and solar panels to generate clean electricity.
Samantha Tullock, Assistant Director of Strategic Assets at believe housing, said: “We’re excited to see work underway on our latest programme of home energy improvement works.
“Customers whose homes were improved in previous schemes tell us the work caused little disruption, and they can feel the benefits in their home and in their pockets.
“Energy efficiency upgrades can significantly improve living conditions by making it easier to keep homes warm, preventing damp and mould, improving residents’ health, and tackling fuel poverty.”
believe housing secured the funding as part of the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub consortium of housing associations and local authorities. Led by Tees Valley Combined Authority, the consortium received a total of £43,910,533 from Warm Homes: SHF (formerly known as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund or SHDF).
Believe housing previously secured £10.26m from the first two waves of the SHDF, towards £18.8 million of home energy upgrades in 3,477 homes.
Faye Gordon, Executive Director of Finance and Investment at believe housing, said: “With this £15.6m scheme, we’re working to improve the energy efficiency of homes for our customers, aiming to help them stay warm, healthy, and reduce their energy consumption.
“Previous schemes have resulted in significant benefits, not only for customers but also in supporting jobs, boosting the region’s economy, and reducing our carbon footprint.
“The support of government funding is essential for us to continue this work, and we’re committed to further investment so we can reach even more homes.”
Header image: Cavity wall insulation being installed to improve the energy efficiency of believe housing homes
