Funding backs hundreds of home upgrades

Hundreds more Tees Valley homes are set to receive energy-efficiency improvements after more than £3 million of additional funding was secured for the region.

The investment forms part of a £14 million funding boost secured by the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub to retrofit another 2381 properties across the wider region.

It will support improvements to an additional 200 homes managed by Darlington Borough Council, including loft and wall insulation, double glazing and low-carbon heating technologies such as heat pumps.

Social housing provider Thirteen will also retrofit a further 381 homes across the Tees Valley.

Sharon Thomas, Thirteen’s chief investment and property officer, said: “We’re delighted to secure this additional funding, which means we can help even more of our customers benefit from warmer, more energy-efficient homes.

“By working in partnership across the Tees Valley, we’ll be able to retrofit hundreds more homes, improving comfort, reducing energy use, and helping residents lower their household bills.

“These upgrades will not only make homes warmer and more sustainable, but will also contribute to reducing carbon emissions and supporting investment in local communities.”

The additional funding was awarded to a consortium of 22 local authorities and housing providers after it exceeded Government delivery targets, with the investment further supported by co-funding from consortium partners.

It follows a first year in which the consortium improved the energy efficiency of more than 1600 homes.

Karen Oliver Spry, manager of the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub, added: “This funding is a boost and reflects the strong delivery of local partners working to improve social housing, cut carbon emissions and help residents live in warmer, healthier homes.

“With this latest allocation, hundreds more households will benefit from energy-efficiency upgrades, improving comfort and wellbeing while helping to reduce household energy use and bills.

“It will also bolster the region’s own net-zero ambitions and create opportunities for local supply chains and retrofit businesses across our area.”

The North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub is funded and directed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Great British Energy, with the Tees Valley Combined Authority acting as its host authority.

The Hub supports local energy projects and the delivery of national programmes including the Warm Homes Plan and Clean Energy 2030 ambitions.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen added: “People across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool are still being hit by the high cost of energy bills and that is money coming straight out of hardworking families’ pockets.

“This funding means hundreds more homes will get the upgrades they need to stay warmer, waste less energy and bring bills down.

“We’ll keep fighting to get every penny we can to ensure our families are spending less of their hard-earned money on heating their homes.”

Want your business, product or service to be seen regionally and nationally? Bdaily helps you get your story in front of the right audience, every day. Find out how Bdaily can help →

Join more than 55,000 subscribers by signing up to our daily bulletin each morning here.