Social Housing Fund Wave3
Social Housing Fund Wave 3
Introduction
Ashford Borough Council’s track record in successfully applying for Government retrofit funding has seen us secure another £2m which will be used to provide energy efficiency upgrades to 220 social homes in the borough.
The project – Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 – helps ensure that even more of our social homes are upgraded to an EPC ‘C’ rating. The funding comes from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ), with the Council contributing another £2m in match funding.
This latest tranche of money comes two years after the Council secured funding of £5.1m in the Fund’s Wave 2.2. That’s been spent on upgrading close to 500 of our social homes.
Our ‘fabric first’ approach to deliver improvements to the shell of each building is providing the most cost-effective and least intrusive methods of raising their thermal efficiency. Work can include cavity wall insulation, external wall insulation, new windows and doors, and solar panels. The improvements installed at each home will depend on the results of the retrofit assessment.
The great benefits for tenants of having this work done
· Help to reduce your energy demand and help lower your energy bills
· Reduce your carbon footprint making your home more environmentally friendly
· Homes will be warmer, better ventilated and more comfortable
· Defects that cause damp and mould are identified in the retrofit assessment and rectified as part of the works
In addition to these welcome benefits for tenants, the upgrades to many hundreds of its most energy-inefficient homes will help ABC with its ambition to become a carbon neutral borough. The Council is working with contractor Sureserve (formerly Low Carbon Exchange) to use the Wave 3 funding to install these improvements to tenants’ homes. The contractor takes care of everything from surveying properties, recommending the right improvements for each home, all the way through to installation. Cllr Noel Ovenden, Ashford Borough Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “I’m delighted that we have been successful in applying for this latest wave of funding. These retrofit measures will help cut carbon emissions and give residents more money in their pockets from cheaper energy bills. We will work closely with the tenants of our most energy-inefficient homes to ensure they fully understand what measures will be installed in their homes and to recognise the tremendous benefits they will enjoy as a result of these exciting retrofit improvements.”
How have homes been selected to receive thermal upgrades?
We have selected properties by the energy efficiency data we hold on our stock. Only homes with EPC ratings of D-G are eligible to receive the grant funding. We plan to target the few remaining G-E rated homes first and then deliver thermal improvements to homes that are D rated. A large amount of our bungalows have a D rating. We have chosen to treat bungalows to provide fuel savings to those who use their pension to heat their home.
When will the work start?
The majority of the homes have already received letters promoting the scheme and inviting participation. If you received a letter and have not yet returned your form then we urge you to return it urgently as the surveys are already underway.
Work has already begun to the bungalows in Little Chequers. The next years programme of work is being developed and will be publicised here in due course. We have committed to deliver energy efficiency measures to at least 88 homes a year before the scheme ends in March 2028.
What happens after the retrofit survey?
Once your home has been surveyed the council will receive the retrofit assessment and recommended improvement measures. The measures will be checked and then agreed. The retrofit coordinator will then design a works package as a sequence of events that start with a range of technical building surveys to ensure the recommendations are suitable for the individual property, then ventilation improvements will be carried out, followed by repairing defects including cavity wall extraction (where appropriate). Scaffolding will be arranged, insulation can then be fitted to lofts and roof edges, heating can be swapped to low carbon heating (air source heat pumps where viable), windows and doors replaced where needed and lastly solar will be fitted on the roof. Once all the measures are installed you will receive questionnaires asking for your thoughts on the whole process and some homes may be asked to take part in some more in-depth study so we can understand the impact and benefits the scheme has had.
What if I am unsure about this work?
The council are rejuvenating a home in South Ashford which, once completed, will be an opportunity for residents to view the low carbon technology fitted and ask questions about the technologies installed. More on this as it happens so keep checking back here. for updates.
Coming away from oil to electric heating may seem daunting, but take a look at Cindy's story on our website to see what a difference it can make.
If you have received a letter and wish to discuss what is involved before signing up then please get in touch using the telephone number on the letter or email us at SHFwave3@ashford.gov.uk
Does this scheme bring any other benefits?
Sureserve have been asked to work with Ashford College who are funding free courses to educate and support local residents in retrofit assessment. We at the council believe in knowledge sharing and bring social value to the economy at Ashford.
We are interested in your views about going green, energy efficiency, so look out for the questionnaire in the Resident Newsletter as your views will help shape delivery of any other further rounds of funding.
Data Protection
Ashford Borough Council is the data controller for any personal information processed. Your information will be used to facilitate the home survey and any energy improvement works carried out. Processing is being conducted under a public task legal basis. Your basic contact details will be shared with our appointed contractors (Sureserve and its contractors) in order to enable the works to be carried out as well as other departments within the council for the purpose of improving services, keeping records up-to-date and for the protection of the public fund, your information will not be shared for any marketing purposes. Any information collected will be retained on your tenancy file.
For more information about your data protection rights please see the Council’s data protection pages which can be found at www.ashford.gov.uk or contact the Data Protection Officer at: The Data Protection Officer, Ashford Borough Council, International House, Dover Place, Ashford TN23 1HU.
