£11.3m investment in warmer homes as Ashford Borough Council secures Government funding to retrofit more than 700 homes; tenants to receive FREE energy efficiency upgrades.

A bold plan to transform more than 700 of Ashford Borough Council’s most energy-inefficient homes will go ahead after a successful application for Government funding of £5.1m.

The money from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2 is bolstered by a £6.2m contribution from the council. This £11.3m investment will ensure that all homes in our social housing stock are upgraded to an EPC ‘C’ rating – that’s a total of 727 properties.

The funding is coming from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

Our ‘fabric first’ approach to deliver big improvements to the shell of each building will provide the most cost-effective and least intrusive methods of raising the thermal efficiency of each one.

The range of improvements can include cavity wall insulation, external wall insulation, new windows and doors, under floor insulation where applicable and solar panels. The improvements installed at each home will depend on the survey carried out. In addition, nearly 100 Ground Source Heat Pumps will be installed in rural properties across the borough.

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
• They’ll provide a warmer and more comfortable home for you to enjoy

In addition to these welcome benefits for tenants, the upgrades to 727 of its most energy-inefficient homes will help the council with its ambition to become a carbon neutral borough by 2030.

The council is working with E.ON to install these improvements to tenants’ homes. E.ON will take care of everything from surveying properties, recommending the correct improvements for each home, all the way through to installation

Ashford’s head of housing Sharon Williams said:

“I am delighted that we have been successful in applying for this funding. These retrofit measures, including solar panels and insulation, will help cut carbon emissions and give residents more money in their pockets from cheaper energy bills.

“The Government has calculated that this investment in retrofitting homes will help tenants save around £170 per year on their energy bills. With homes accounting for 15% of the UK’s carbon emissions, this work will also help towards eliminating the country’s contribution to climate change by 2050.

“The council, together with our partners E.ON, will now be working closely with the tenants of our most energy-inefficient homes to ensure they fully understand how the scheme will work, what measures will be installed in their homes and most importantly recognise the tremendous benefits they will enjoy as a result of these exciting retrofit improvements.”

Chris Lovatt, chief operating officer, UK Solutions at E.ON, said:

“The homes we live in are among the single largest contributors to the UK’s carbon footprint, with about 14% of the country’s total carbon emissions coming from heating our homes. Energy efficiency is simply the best investment we can make as a country – it cuts household bills and makes homes warmer and healthier, it reduces our impact on the planet and it also helps to grow the economy by spurring the creation of new green collar jobs.

“This major project with Ashford Borough Council is one of a number of schemes  up and down the country where we are helping people to take action for climate, improving the energy efficiency of homes for thousands of families, and providing long term support that cuts energy bills today and for years to come.”

What happens next?

All work is subject to a free home survey and one of E.ON’s friendly experts will contact each tenant via phone to arrange a survey. An E.ON assessor will come to your home and conduct an internal and external assessment of the property.

E.ON experts will visiting each area involved so residents can meet members of our team, find out more about work that’s going to take place and answer questions. A roadshow event will also take place in a local community centre close to where tenants live.