Council more than doubles homes upgraded through government energy efficiency scheme
Wealden District Council installs energy efficiency upgrades at 228 homes, supporting residents with warmer homes and lower energy bills.
Located in East Sussex, the district of Wealden is home to more than 165,000 people.
Wealden District Council, who supports these people, manages more than 3,000 social homes, aiming to provide quality housing for residents.
To support its ambitions to ensure housing is warm, comfortable and affordable to heat, the council has been working to upgrade its housing stock by installing energy efficiency measures including solar panels and insulation.
To accelerate progress against its targets, the council has utilised government funding schemes including the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.2.
Councillor Dan Manvell, cabinet member for housing, said: “With the funding being 50-50 grant funding and council co-spend, it effectively allows us to do twice as much.
“Although the process is different, it helps us to achieve our goals and push further, faster.”
With the funding being 50-50 grant funding and council co-spend, it effectively allows us to do twice as much.
Through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.2, Wealden District Council received £1.45 million in grant funding.
With a minimum £1.45 million in match funding applied, the total investment of the project nears £3 million.
Although its initial bid was for the upgrade of 106 properties, the council was able to use funding awarded to upgrade a total of 228 homes, benefitting more than double the residents.
Cllr Manvell added: “Delivering the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.2 and expanding the scope of homes delivered through that scheme has allowed us to get even further ahead than what we were originally planning.”
Looking ahead, the council is continuing its work to upgrade more homes across the district, accelerated by additional government funding through the Warm Homes: Local Grant and Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund.
Hear what councillor Dan Manvell, cabinet member for housing, had to say about the council’s ambitions for future energy efficiency delivery.
While we were on site in East Sussex, we spoke with Bev Stokes and her husband Steve to hear about their experience with upgrades funded through the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme.
Bev, whose new solar panels are supporting her to cut her energy bills by around a third, said: “I’ve worked hard all my life and nobody’s given me anything.
“I’m still on a high about it.”
Watch our short interview with Bev to hear more about her experience with upgrades installed through the scheme.
