Today, in support of the council’s ambition to be net carbon zero by 2030, Cheltenham Borough Homes (CBH) has received news we have been offered £800,000 of funding to improve the energy efficiency of fifty nine homes with an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of D or below.
The funding was provided through the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), which is administered by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
BEIS suggests tenants whose homes have works funded through the scheme will save around £170 a year on energy bills from energy-efficiency upgrades such as, insulation, and heating systems.
Councillor Max Wilkinson, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Cheltenham Borough Council explained: “Decarbonising homes is a big part of Cheltenham’s journey to net zero and to do that we need to improve energy efficiency of the lowest performing homes.
Projects like these are an important step towards eradicating UK fuel poverty too, improving the lives of low-income households.
I’m also pleased that this work will support the local economy, with jobs for plumbers, builders and other trades people who can all help us achieve our environmental goals.”
Emma Wall, Executive Director, Property & Communities said: “To meet the council’s ambition of being net carbon zero by 2030 all our homes will need some form of work, known as retrofitting, to reduce their carbon impact over the coming years. Exciting projects like these help us to lead the way and gain a better understanding of the challenge we all face whilst giving benefit for both tenants and the environment.”
The project will help Cheltenham Borough Homes identify which are the best options to adopt in the more than 4,500 homes it has.
As a trusted partner of Cheltenham Borough Council, CBH is developing a Carbon Reduction plan which will include plans for the existing social housing portfolio, taking account of budget requirements to help meet the challenging target set by the council to be net carbon zero by 2030.
The BEIS Wave 1 project will demonstrate to private homeowners and contractors what can be achieved, providing an example of best practice that others can learn from.
CBH has adopted low carbon construction for the 24 homes on a Brownfield site at Swindon Road, which recently gained planning permission. Other considerations include solar panels, green roofs and outside space for trees and greenery, making room available for hedgehog highways, bat, bee, and bird boxes to allow wildlife to flourish.
View a full list of those who received the SHDF Wave 1 fund: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-housing-decarbonisation-fund-wave-1-successful-bids
ENDS
Background:
The funding will also support around 9,000 jobs in the green energy sector and deliver carbon emissions savings equivalent to taking up to 6,000 cars off the road in any given year.
The SHDF is a £3.8bn Government commitment over a 10-year period to improve the energy performance of socially rented homes.
Around 20,000 social homes across England will be made warmer and benefit from cheaper energy bills thanks to £179m of Government funding that has been announced
Contact the press office on communications@cheltenham.gov.uk | 0800 408 0000