Forrest strikes solar deal with City West

SOCIAL housing contractor Forrest has secured a new contract to install solar panels on 1,850 residential properties, on behalf of City West Housing Trust in Salford.

It is part of a £120m deal agreed last year between Bolton-based Forrest and the Australian bank Macquarie.

Under the terms of the deal Macquarie will fund the installation of solar panels over the next three years in return for the revenue from the Government’s feed-in tariff scheme.

A second phase of up to 2,000 properties is expected from City West’s stock of 14,600 in Salford.

Paul McCarren, energy director at Forrest, said: “The cost of solar projects for housing associations can be prohibitive. Our partnership with Macquarie is opening the gateway for our clients to offer solar and reduce energy costs for residents for free.

“We’ve built up a strong working relationship with City West, aside from this energy project we’re also delivering refurbishment works at its College Croft development in Eccles and delivering new build works to its Fairhurst Drive and Mount Skip sites in Little Hulton.”