Government invests in making social homes energy efficient

Tens of thousands of people across England are set to benefit from warmer, greener social homes, as the government gives social housing providers the opportunity to bid for funding to improve their stock.

Local authorities and housing associations will have the chance to secure a share of a £160m first wave of funding, through the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

The first wave of funding is expected to upgrade up to 38,000 of the UK’s worst energy-performing social housing properties, with energy performance certificate ratings of D or below, by installing insulation and more energy-efficient doors, windows and heating systems.

This investment will help cut emissions while saving tenants around £170 per year on energy bills, and is part of a wider £9bn government commitment to increase the energy efficiency of homes, schools and hospitals.

Minister for business, energy and corporate responsibility, Lord Callanan, said: ‘Today’s announcement is a vital step forward in eradicating UK fuel poverty and improving the lives and homes of low-income households, all while creating new work for local plumbers, builders and tradespeople who will be building homes fit for our greener future.

‘With a real appetite among councils and housing associations to make their homes cheaper to heat and warmer to live in, this investment is putting the power in the hands of the people who know their communities best, allowing the right decisions to be made for each home they manage while ensuring the very best for their tenants and the environment.’

The first wave of funding comes from a total of £3.8bn to be spent over a 10-year period to improve homes across the country with energy efficiency measures.

The funding announcement follows an earlier demonstrator phase launched in March 2021, which awarded £62m to projects across England and Scotland which will look to upgrade 2,300 socially rented homes.

The first wave competition launched today and will run for eight weeks until 15 October, with successful applicants announced in early 2022.

Photo by Erik Mclean