£80 million plan for warmer homes across the North East and Yorkshire approved [Archived]

This is made possible by a £32.4 million grant from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and £48.2 million from consortium partners, to deliver the £80.6 million scheme to 5,525 homes.

The North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub led the bid to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.1, which aims to raise the energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of social homes to a minimum of Band C.

A range of work will be carried out to dramatically improve the energy efficiency of properties across the region through a worst-first, fabric-first approach using measures such as external wall, loft, cavity wall, and underfloor insulation. Some properties will also receive renewable technologies such as solar photovoltaic panels or air source heat pumps, moving away from reliance on fossil fuels to power and heat these buildings.

They will help to reduce the number of people in fuel poverty and improve their comfort and health, while driving down CO2 emissions and supporting the green economy and jobs.

Thirteen’s head of environmental sustainability Samantha Granger said: “Our priority is to help our customers lead more comfortable lives, in homes that are warm and energy efficient, so this funding boost is very welcome news.

“We know that older properties are less energy efficient, so putting some of these energy efficiency measures in place will make a big difference and support our journey to ensuring our homes are energy efficient and carbon neutral in the future.”

The North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub made the bid on behalf of a consortium made up of Arches Housing Ltd, Assist Sheffield, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Believe Housing, Bernicia, Beyond Housing, Broadacres, Darlington Borough Council, Doncaster Council, Great Places, Hartlepool Borough Council, Humankind, Karbon, Livin, Northstar, Railway Housing, Sheffield council , South Tyneside Homes  and Thirteen Group. The bid was supported by Tees Valley Combined Authority, the accountable body for the Net Zero Hub.