Resident “over the moon” following energy efficiency upgrades
At 80 years old, Mary Simons is now a proud advocate for solar panels and insulation
Spanning a largely rural area on the north west edge of Leicestershire, bordering Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, the district of North West Leicestershire is home to more than 110,000 people.
North West Leicestershire District Council, which delivers essential local services for its residents, manages more than 4,000 social homes across the area.
The council is aiming to ensure all homes reach energy performance certificate (EPC) band C by 2030, benefitting residents through warmer, more comfortable homes and lower energy bills.
We visited Leicestershire to speak with council representatives and residents and hear more about how the upgrades are making a difference to their homes and lives.
One of the residents, Mary Simons, has lived in and around Hugglescote since she was just six months old and has been in her current home in Donington Le Heath for more than 16 years.
She worked as a lady’s hair stylist until a few years ago when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Mary said: “I am 150 per cent over the moon with what I’ve had done.
“I feel very privileged. I feel that I’m a very lucky lady.”
Watch our short video with Mary to hear more about her experience.
Everybody’s been worried about the heating bills, but I know my electric bill’s going to be a lot less.
When asked about how she felt looking ahead to the next winter, Mary added: “I know that I’m going to be a lot warmer, I don’t worry.
“Everybody’s been worried about the heating bills, but I know my electric bill’s going to be a lot less.
“Therefore, my gas bill will be a lot less because of the extra insulation in the bungalow.”
The upgrades at Mary’s home included solar panels, loft insulation and cavity wall insulation and were funded through the government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 scheme.
The council credits its ability to scale up delivery through the latest wave to lessons learnt delivering through the earlier Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.2.
Across both schemes, the council is aiming to upgrade a total of 980 homes across the district, having been awarded more than £8.8 million in grant funding to support this work.
134 homes were upgraded through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.2 and a further 844 homes are under way to be upgraded through the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3.
Both schemes are funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and our teams at Salix assure and administer funding for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.2.
Keep an eye on our website for a case study which will further delve into scheme delivery and how the council responded flexibly to ensure key lessons learnt were embedded through iterative waves of these important schemes.
