Newark and Sherwood District Council accept £583,500 grant from the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities for energy efficient and low carbon schemes in social housing

Thirty eight council houses are to be made greener thanks to a government grant.

Newark and Sherwood District Council accepted £583,500 from Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities at its latest cabinet meeting, and agreed it be added to the housing assets capital programme.

It was awarded to the council due to their participation in the East Midlands combined authority, and all participants received an equal amount.

The grant is set to be used for five full retrofits of air source heat pumps and solar panels, and over 40 decarbonisation or energy saving measures measures, in properties which were not able to be covered by previous decarbonisation funding.

This is due to the fact the properties have EPC ratings of either D or E, or require an expensive whole house retrofit approach and external wall insulation.

Officers told the council they had to move quickly, as the spend had to be committed by March 2024, and all work completed by August 2024.

As the council is already working with The Midlands Net Zero Hub to deliver carbon neutral heating, solar and air source to 102 council-owned homes through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, the additional works are to be considered an extension of that delivery — but will be fully funded by the government grant.

The project aims to benefit tenants by reducing heating costs, allowing them keep their homes sufficiently heated.

This will also benefit the council in maintaining their homes and make it less likely it will have to intervene to remedy damp and mould issues.

Rhona Holloway questioned if support would also be given to tenants to help them use the new systems in the most efficient way, and was reassured easy to follow instructions were provided, as well as follow-up visits.