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North Devon Homes is to further improve the energy efficiency of its customers’ homes after the community landlord secured £1.5 million match funding for the work following a successful funding bid by the South West Net Zero Hub. By improving insulation within the properties, residents should see a reduction in their cost of heating.
Head of Asset Management, Claire Fallow, helped secure the funding and upon hearing the news said, “We are delighted to have been successful in our bid which will fund ‘fabric first’ measures to around 120 of our homes across North Devon. The Energy Saving Trust reports that 21 per cent of total carbon emissions in the UK come from our homes and so this money will help us to increase roof and external wall insulation over the next two years. This will help to keep our homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, helping to lower energy bills for our customers and helping to meet the UK’s net zero ambitions.”
North Devon Homes worked with local authorities and social landlords across the South West as part of the South West Net Zero Hub to secure the £1.5million in funding with the additional £1.5million matched by North Devon Homes.
Chief Executive, Martyn Gimber, explained, “We will be working alongside our partners in the South West Net Zero Hub to deliver the program of work over the next 2 years. Working as part of this consortium is beneficial to all involved as it is a collaborative learning environment. The Net Zero Hub has delivered retrofit programmes before, and we are now utilising these learnings to effectively support the successful delivery of these rewarding but complex projects.”
The money is provided through the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2 (SHDF) which will support the overall delivery of more than £82m worth of home upgrades for low-income households across the South West of England. This is the second wave of funding for sustainable home upgrades that the South West has received in the past 3 years.
The SHDF forms part of the government’s commitment to reduce overall UK energy demand by 15% by 2030, as well as supporting the ambition for the UK to move towards greater energy independence.
Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said, “This investment will help thousands of households to heat their homes for less, keep them warm for longer and could save hundreds on their annual energy bill.
“The green energy sector is growing, and this funding will support green jobs and provide the training needed to deliver these vital upgrades to homes.”
Jon Rattenbury, Programme Manager for the South West Net Zero Hub, adds, “This is fantastic news for households in the South West and it takes us a step closer to achieving the region’s net zero targets. We look forward to working with our partners to deliver sustainable home upgrades that will make homes warmer and address fuel poverty.”
Issued 17/04/23
