£500,000 RETROFIT AWARD TO GIVE PORTISHEAD HOUSING A NEW LEASE OF LIFE
Challenging properties in Portishead, Bristol are to become energy efficient thanks to Social Housing provider Alliance Homes and the Ready for Retrofit programme, run by the Energy Saving Trust.
Ready for Retrofit has awarded Alliance Homes £503,056 to retrofit several energy efficient measures including solid wall insulation, loft top up’s for top floor flats and bungalows, LED lighting as well as replacement of gas boilers and mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems.
Including the funding Alliance Homes will invest a total of £819,081 to improve 63 properties that currently suffer high wind exposure and fabric issues, resulting in high fuels costs. The measures will have a substantial impact for tenants with fuel cost savings and warm comfortable homes.
Jon Rattenbury, Ready for Retrofit Manager said: “This scheme is exactly the type of project Ready for Retrofit is here to support. We want to see tenants benefiting from cheaper energy bills, a reduction in the risk of fuel poverty, whilst also saving on CO2 emissions.”
The scheme will positively effect the properties energy efficiency ratings which are currently as low as G to a C or B through retrofitting. Energy efficiency ratings range from G to A, the highest grade. The higher the grade the more efficient a property is and the lower the fuel bills will be.
Anthony Bebbington, Investment and Major Works Manager at Alliance Homes said: “ This scheme represents a significant opportunity to upgrade our portfolio in Portishead. The funding from the Ready for Retrofit Project makes it realistic for us to complete this project targeting 63 homes. These measures will have significant impacts for our tenants in cost savings on fuel, increasing thermal comfort levels and maximising the asset value of our stock. We will also be using local businesses to deliver the works.”
Working closely with the Ready for Retrofit programme, Alliance Homes are committed to using local installers and suppliers to undertake both the energy efficiency and complimentary non-energy efficient works.
Jon continues: “We are pleased to see that local businesses within the retrofit sector will be involved with the Alliance Homes scheme as Ready for Retrofit is here to support these businesses. Not only will this create local market opportunities and jobs but will also increase the skill sets within the sector, helping to generate a strong energy efficiency and microgeneration sector within the South West.”
The £8 million Ready for Retrofit programme is a funding opportunity for social landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their homes through retrofitting renewable heat and electricity measures. Partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund the programme aims to support the supply chain for retrofit by stimulating demand.
For more information please visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.
For more information, please contact Julie Everett at Coast Communications on 01752 847135/ 07866 002635 or email julie@coastmarcoms.co.uk
Ready for Retrofit
Ready for Retrofit is a three-year project offering a new funding opportunity for social landlords in the south west of England (except Cornwall) to improve the energy efficiency of their existing stock. The aim of the project is to grow the local supply chain for low carbon building retrofit by stimulating demand and supporting local SME businesses, in order to create a sustainable domestic energy efficiency and microgeneration sector.
ERDF
The Ready for Retrofit project is part financed by the SW Competitiveness European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf
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