Contract awarded for £20m scheme to decarbonise 1,000 homes

Energy, services and regeneration company, Equans has been confirmed as the principal contractor for the decarbonisation of around 1,000 homes across the North West and Cumbria.

Works will include pre-construction support and installation of various retrofit energy efficiency measures including design, delivery, compliance and aftercare in line with the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

The £20m scheme, in partnership with Liverpool-based housing provider The Riverside Group, is funded in part by SHDF funding which was secured via the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Equans has a dedicated sustainability team based across the North of England, working alongside housing associations and local authorities to support their push for carbon net zero. Equans is already carrying out decarbonisation and regeneration works to more than 200 homes in the North West, including a 130-home scheme in Runcorn, having previously carried out large scale degassing works in Newcastle on two high rise tower blocks where the old gas system was replaced by Ground Source Heat Pumps.

Neil Warburton, refurbishment director at Equans, said: “Equans is continuing to strengthen our portfolio when it comes to decarbonising homes, and we’re delighted to have been awarded this scheme to complete works to 1,000 properties across the North of England.

“We’ve got a knowledgeable, dedicated team that are working to make homes more sustainable and more comfortable for residents, and I’m looking forward to seeing yet another important scheme get under way.”

Ian Gregg, executive director of asset services at Riverside, said: “This is a hugely exciting project which will have a transformative effect on some of our most in-need properties.

“It will deliver real, tangible benefits to more than 1,000 families and customers and represents a kick-start for our work towards reaching a net zero position.

“At a time of rising fuel bills and the cost-of-living crisis, this couldn’t be better timed so we’re extremely grateful to the SHDF and DESNZ for their support and we’re looking forward to getting started.”