Advance Housing and Support has been granted £400,000 by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to match its own investment to improve the energy performance of 51 homes in Leicester and surrounding areas.
The housing association applied for the second wave of funding from DESNZ’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) at the end of 2022. The grant will be spent across 2023/24 and 2024/25 to bring properties currently graded Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band D or E to a minimum EPC Band C.
Ian Gilders, executive director of housing at Advance Housing and Support, said: “We’ve budgeted to spend £16 million over our long-term business plan, to help to reduce our carbon footprint and improve the energy efficiency of our customers’ homes. We’re delighted to have been awarded this funding which gives a real boost to our immediate plans.”
Ian continued: “Our focus will be on improving the insulation of the homes, particularly on older properties where insulation of external walls is required. These measures can have a big impact, particularly on reducing energy usage and therefore costs. People with disabilities are among some of the hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis so we’re pleased to be able to take action which will help to reduce their bills as well as contribute to lowering carbon emissions.”
Advance’s bid was part of a larger consortium bid known as the Midlands Net Zero Hub, led by Nottingham City Council and involved many councils and housing associations throughout the midlands. The consortium was awarded a total of £47.2m to improve social housing across the midlands. Advance is one of very few specialist supported housing providers to be successful in this bid round.
Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said: “This investment will help thousands of households to heat their homes for less, keep them warm for longer and could save hundreds on their annual energy bill.
“The green energy sector is growing, and this funding will support green jobs and provide the training needed to deliver these vital upgrades to homes.”
The 2019 Conservative Manifesto committed to a £3.8bn Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund over a 10-year period to improve the energy performance of social rented homes, on the pathway to Net Zero 2050. The SHDF is being rolled out in waves with the second wave totalling £778 million.
