Residents receive garden upgrades and personalised hampers as part of energy efficiency project
Social value initiatives embedded into retrofit projects in the East of England
An ambitious energy efficiency scheme run by multiple housing associations has been praised for offering holistic support for residents and the wider community.
The project will see retrofit upgrades installed at more than 500 homes owned and managed by five housing associations operating across Norfolk and Suffolk.
Upgraded homes received a range of measures including solid wall insulation, solar panels, loft insulation and air source heat pumps.
To complete the project, Broadland Housing Association, Freebridge Community Housing, Havebury Housing Partnership, Orwell Housing Association and Saffron Housing Trust established a consortium, with Broadland leading the work on the group’s behalf.
Combined, these associations support and manage more than 31,000 homes housing tens of thousands of residents.
As a part of the procurement for the programme, the consortium sought to find a contractor able to not only complete the work to the desired quality and timescale, but who was on board with supporting additional initiatives to benefit the local community.
Justin O’Connor, assistant asset director at Broadland Housing Association, said: “Ultimately, this work is about more affordable homes when energy prices are at an all-time high.
“It provides support for people at risk of falling into fuel poverty and helps people to manage their bills.
“Aligned with this, as a part of our procurement activity, we wanted to work with a contractor who – like us – has our residents’ best interests at heart.”
Ultimately, this work is about more affordable homes when energy prices are at an all-time high.
It provides support for people at risk of falling into fuel poverty and helps people to manage their bills.
Contractor EON was successful in their bid for the work and oversaw delivery.
Andy Aleo, senior delivery manager at EON, said: “From the outset, we were considering what social value contributions could look like for each area and each project delivered through the scheme.
“Each area is unique, and we wanted to ensure we supplied appropriate support that would offer best benefit to both residents and the wider community.”
Each area is unique, and we wanted to ensure we supplied appropriate support that would offer best benefit to both residents and the wider community.
Social value initiatives included hampers and charity donations tailored for the individual families and people in need across the wider community.
Organisations to benefit include a Suffolk-based homelessness charity, Lucy Adams House, Make A Difference in Orwell and Feathers Futures charity for women. The charities support a wide range of people in the community from domestic abuse survivors to migrants and more.
To support the energy efficiency upgrades, the consortium was awarded more than £8.9 million in funding through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.1.
Funding for this scheme is delivered on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Havebury is also celebrating after being recently shortlisted in the East of England Energy Efficiency Awards in the ‘regional housing association or landlord of the year’ category.
Although it missed out on top prize it was a chance to showcase its work providing energy efficiency works alongside improving the welfare and quality of life for tenants.
Matt Jones, our Salix project support officer who works with the consortium to support them in the delivery of the project, said: “Alongside improving the energy efficiency in these homes and reducing carbon emissions, the Broadland-led consortium has had a real positive impact across its community.
“Its focus on social value alongside retrofit truly demonstrates what it means to not only care for the planet, but also for people and how the two are intrinsically combined.”
Its focus on social value alongside retrofit truly demonstrates what it means to not only care for the planet, but also for people and how the two are intrinsically combined.
Despite challenges, both the Broadland-led consortium and EON say they are proud of the outcome of the scheme. The organisations plan to use lessons learnt as a blueprint for future works at other properties requiring similar upgrades.
This includes a particularly transformative programme at Anselm Avenue in Bury Saint Edmunds where a 1930s block of flats received upgrades described by residents as a new ‘breath of life.’
Project workers also had to get creative to overcome financial and logistical challenges when asbestos was unexpectedly found in the roof of homes on Bloomsbury Close, Lowestoft.
They managed to secure additional funding to ensure the full scope of work could be completed with minimal disruption to residents.
Consortium members are continuing to deliver retrofit upgrades funded through the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund. However, for the latest wave of the government scheme, they will deliver individually, rather than under the consortium model.
Justin added: “Although we’re not delivering together under the consortium structure for future works, we still meet monthly to discuss strategies, challenges and opportunities.
“It’s a great chance to collaborate and stay connected for the benefit of not only our own tenants, but the wider community and area we support.”
You can find out more about the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.1 via our website.
