A consortium of 22 local authorities and housing providers led by the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub has secured almost £44m of government funding for energy efficiency improvements at over 6000 homes – which is expected to be matched by around £35m of additional funding.
The government has confirmed successful bids to the Warmer Homes Social Housing Fund – including a grant funding offer of £43.9m to the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub-led consortium.
The funding will be matched by contributions from consortium members – meaning that the total value of the programme is likely to be more than £80m.
The funding will be used to deliver the improvements such as external wall, loft, cavity wall, and underfloor insulation which will allow in the region of 6000 properties to achieve a minimum Energy Performance Certificate rating of C, delivering warmer and more energy efficient homes, reducing carbon emissions, tackling fuel poverty and improving the comfort, health and well-being of families from across the North East and Yorkshire.
Some properties will also receive renewable technologies such as solar panels or air source heat pumps.
Chris Rowell, Chair of the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub board and Head of Net Zero for the Tees Valley Combined Authority, said:
“The Warm Homes Social Fund allocation secured by our consortium is likely to unlock in twice as much match funding – which will make a real impact to the lives of people in the North East and Yorkshire.
“Having the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub, for which the Tees Valley Combined Authority is the accountable body, lead a consortium bid of local authorities and housing providers opened up the Warmer Homes Social Housing Scheme to areas and families who would otherwise have not been able to benefit – highlighting the real strength of the Hub’s partnership work across six Combined Authority boundaries.”
Karen Oliver Spry, North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub Manager added:
“This funding will make a real difference to health and happiness of people across the North East and Yorkshire, while also making a real contribution towards reducing energy demand, carbon emissions and fuel poverty across our region.
“Delivering the government’s forthcoming Warm Homes plan is going to be a key element of the work of the North East and Yorkshire Hub in the year ahead, and seeing seven successful bids into the Warmer Homes Social Housing Fund in addition to our own consortium is a real vote of confidence in the local authorities and housing providers of the region”.
The members of the NEY Net Zero Hub consortium are:
- Believe
- Bernicia
- Broadacres
- Darlington Council
- Doncaster Council
- Gateshead Council
- Gentoo
- Golden Lane Housing
- Hartlepool Council
- Joseph Rowntree Housing
- Karbon Homes
- Keelman Homes
- Livin
- Northstar
- Railway Housing
- South Yorkshire Housing Association
- Thirteen Group
- Tyne Group
- Great Places
- Durham Age Miners
- Northumberland Council
- Sheffield City Council
Barnsley Council, York City Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Leeds City Council, North Yorkshire Council and Rotherham MB Council were also successful with bids into the Fund, as was a consortium led by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority made of up of housing providers Chartford, Connect, Incommunities, Kirklees Council, Leeds Federated, Tangram, Unity, WDH and Yorkshire Housing.
The North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub is a partnership of six Combined Authorities, funded and directed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to support local areas with the development and delivery of clean energy projects.
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