Swindon Borough Council will carry out a ‘whole house retrofit’ scheme over the next three financial years, targeting 104 council-owned properties with poor energy performance ratings.
Rather than tackling issues individually, the programme will take a ‘fabric-first’ approach, considering insulation, ventilation, airtightness and heating systems together to prevent problems such as damp.
The council has secured £882,000 from the Government’s Warm Homes Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. Around £5.7m will also be provided from the council’s Housing Revenue Account, which can only be used for maintaining and improving council housing.
Planned improvements include external wall insulation, roof replacements, new windows and doors where needed, solar panel installation and structural repairs.
The work is expected to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and increase the homes’ Energy Performance Certificate ratings from Band E to at least Band C.
Property consultancy McBains has been appointed to carry out retrofit assessments, structural surveys and planning for the scheme.
The project is in addition to an existing £30m five-year programme already underway to improve the energy efficiency of hundreds of council homes across the borough.
Councillor Janine Howarth, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said:
“I’m delighted that the Council has secured government funding to help extend the reach of our home energy efficiency improvements programme to over 100 properties in Stratton and Highworth.
“I’ve recently spoken to council tenants in other parts of the Borough who have benefited from similar improvements including new roofs, windows, doors and solar panels. They really appreciate how this has made it cheaper and easier to keep their homes warm.”
Councillor Emma Bushell, Deputy Leader of Swindon Borough Council and Ambassador for the Greener Swindon mission, said: “Up to 75 per cent of a building’s energy is lost through the walls, roof, floors, windows and doors. That’s why we’re doing all we can to invest in measures that improve the energy performance of council-owned homes.
“It’s a win-win for both the environment and the tenants living in these properties.”
