The £3.2M Energy Scheme Decarbonising Council Homes
Tamworth Borough Council and Equans have worked together to improve the thermal efficiency of 50 council-owned homes in Hockley.
The £3.2 million project has included installing new highly efficient external wall insulation, covered by modern white render. This has transformed the homes’ energy performance and appearance.
In addition to this, roofs have been replaced and insulated, with new double-glazed windows and doors being installed. New ventilation systems will help to circulate air and will therefore reduce the risk of dampness and mould.
The project is showing what future council housing could look like
Tamworth Borough Council have revealed that carbon emissions from the properties will be reduced by around 2,000 tonnes over the lifetime of the technology installed across the scheme.
This is as much as 1.6 tonnes of carbon per property annually, equivalent to the amount absorbed by approximately 70 trees.
Chris Caffrey, Operations Director at Equans, explained that the project shows the potential of future council housing: “These homes have been completely transformed and are a prime example of how all social housing and council-owned homes could look and function in the future.”
We’re proud to build on our long-standing relationship with Tamworth Borough Council and to use our low-carbon expertise to help reduce emissions from homes typical of those found across the UK.
Funding from the UK Government has supported the project
The previously hard-to-heat homes now have EPC ratings as high as C. This is an improvement from pre-work ratings which were as low as E.
Councillor Samuel Smith, Tamworth Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning, expressed that technology used in the project such as wall insulation is key to focusing on tenants.
He said: “These home improvements will make a huge difference in helping to make the homes warmer for tenants in winter, cheaper to heat and will contribute to keeping energy bills low.”
Continuing, the Councillor stated that this project is just one part of the council’s decarbonisation puzzle: “This project is part of a wider approach by the council to proactively assist tenants’ in failing properties to work to improve energy performance.”
It allows us as Tamworth Borough Council, take a detailed approach with each landlord and provide them with a suite of options to improve the property.
The project has been part-funded by a £900,000 grant from the UK Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. This is aiming to upgrade the efficiency of the country’s worst-performing social housing.
Tamworth Borough Council declared a climate emergency in October 2019, with aspirations to achieve net zero by 2050.
Not only will this project help to contribute towards reaching this target by reducing carbon emissions, but it will also serve as a pilot for future projects in the area.
