£1.5m to make 100 social housing homes more efficient

Wokingham Borough Council has been awarded £750,000 by The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to make social homes more energy efficient. 

The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund

This will be funded through the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund scheme, which the council will match fund, leading to £1.5 million investment in 100 homes over the next three years. 

The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (Wave 3)  helps councils and social housing landlords to improve the energy performance of social homes. 

In Wokingham Borough this will improve the Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) of 100 social housing homes in the borough to a Band C. 

Energy efficiency upgrades

This will be achieved through energy efficiency upgrades including wall and loft insulation, meaning residents energy costs should be lower. 

Leader of the council and executive member for housing, partnerships and the local plan, Cllr Stephen Conway said: “This is fantastic news for social housing residents as the funding means they are eligible for home improvements to save energy. 

Helping residents to keep warm

These options will improve their homes by better insulation, helping residents to keep warm, particularly in the colder months. 

As homes will cost less to heat, residents will see a reduction in their energy bills and carbon emissions, helping us work towards becoming a carbon neutral Wokingham Borough.”

Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh, said: "Living in a warm, comfortable home should not be a luxury. It is a right that has been out of reach for too many people for too long. 

“By giving this funding to local authorities and social housing providers we are delivering on our promise to improve the homes of thousands of people across England.

Warmer, cleaner and cheaper

“As part of our Plan for Change, we are powering on with our Warm Homes Plan, upgrading cold and draughty homes so they are warmer, cleaner, and cheaper to live in."

Residents who are eligible will be contacted directly by the council in the coming months with further details. 

More from communications, engagement and marketing team at WBC at: cem@wokingham.gov.uk