Social housing decarbonisation project kicks off in Islington

Work to improve the energy efficiency of social housing in Islington has started, with 314 council homes being upgraded to make them warmer and reducing bills for tenants and residents.

The work will bring an estimated saving of more than ￡250 in bills every year for households.

Mears Group is working in partnership with London Borough of Islington to deliver the project after the local authority successfully secured ￡3.1 million of funding from the UK Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).

Across the borough, work will be carried out to improve the energy efficiency of the homes including improving insulation, introducing low energy lighting, and refurbishing roofing. Mears Group has taken on two new apprentices locally to support on the delivery of the work.

Mark Fenton-Smith, Regional Director, Homes for Islington, at Mears Group, said:

Councillor Una O’Halloran, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Homes and Communities,said:

We want everyone in Islington to have a safe, decent, and genuinely affordable place to call home. Making our homes greener and more energy efficient is a vital part of this. I’m delighted this project will make people’s homes warmer and save them money while helping to create a greener Islington for all.

The Islington project is one of nine which Mears Group is delivering following its collaboration with local partners to secure funding from the SHDF Wave 2.1 round. In total, the projects will see the energy efficiency of up to 3,500 social homes across England improved.

Across the nine regions, the projected savings on energy bills over a year could exceed ￡1 million and will reduce carbon emissions by around 1,300 tonnes. The projects will create or sustain up to 350 jobs, with the roles providing an opportunity for the development of green skills across the workforce and the wider local supply chain.

The SHDF is awarded by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to support projects to improve the energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of social housing to a minimum EPC band C. The funding aims to reduce fuel stress,reduce carbon emissions, support the green economy through employment opportunities, and improve tenants’ comfort, health, and wellbeing.

Mears Group's ambition is to be recognised as the most trusted, large private provider, working with the public sector by 2025.

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