£15m retrofit programmes to upgrade homes across North East Derbyshire
Sustainable Building Services (SBS) has secured two retrofit contracts totalling over £15m to improve the energy efficiency of hundreds of homes in North East Derbyshire.
The work is being funded by the government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 (WH:SHF) and the newly- launched Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG), and will take place over the next three years.
The projects will cover a mix of social and privately owned homes.
Rykneld Homes will lead a £10.4m scheme, part-funded through WH:SHF, which aims to upgrade nearly 400 homes.
A separate £5.1m programme led by North East Derbyshire District Council, funded through WH:LG, will focus on improving more than 300 fuel-poor households using a place-based approach.
The retrofit work is aimed at raising all homes to at least an EPC C rating and will include external and cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, new windows and doors, solar panels and air source heat pumps.
The measures are intended to cut energy use, lower emissions, and reduce heating bills through improved building fabric and cleaner energy systems.
Daniel Owens, regional director at SBS said: “Being appointed to deliver this scale of retrofit in North East Derbyshire is especially rewarding given our long-standing relationship with Rykneld Homes and the local council. We understand the local housing stock and community and have built foundations that will ensure trustworthy and efficient delivery from day one.
“These programmes enable us to continue making a real difference to people’s homes, health and energy bills, while contributing to local net zero goals and creating skilled jobs in the region. It is a fantastic opportunity to build on everything we have achieved here over the past decade, so we can’t wait to get started.”
SBS will work in partnership with Rykneld Homes to carry out the upgrades, following on from the pair’s previous collaboration on a £21m scheme under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2, which improved more than 640 properties.
Niall Clark, deputy managing director at Rykneld Homes said: “You only have to look at our track record of work with SBS and the partnership we have developed, to understand the difference we’re making in the region. SBS has worked extensively in North East Derbyshire, holding vast experience in the retrofit sector and vital knowledge of local housing.
“Through various schemes, we have improved thousands of homes with an approach that prioritises customer engagement, as well as high-quality results and service. The contractor’s values align very closely with our own, making this appointment an easy decision as we look to quickly mobilise our upcoming retrofit programme.”
The schemes are part of wider efforts to cut fuel poverty and carbon emissions, while improving living conditions for residents.
SBS has been appointed through a direct award via the EEM Property Improvements and Decarbonisation Works Framework.
