£5m secured for councils’s retrofit housing programme

£5.1m in government funding has been secured by the City of Wolverhampton for its retrofit housing programme.

The funding aims to create warmer, greener and more energy-efficient homes for council tenants living in ageing, thermally inefficient, non-traditionally built housing stock.

In November, 45 homes were finalised as a part of the first stage, which includes 85 ‘Cornish’ properties near Bradley Lane in Bradley, along with 86 ‘Wimpey No-fines’ properties on the Rough Hills Estate in Ettingshall.

Energy efficiency enhancements will be made to the homes, including the installation of external wall insulation, new double glazing, replacement of external doors, increased loft insulation, improved ventilation, and re-roofing.

These measures are designed to assist tenants in reducing energy consumption and lowering carbon emissions.

The scheme is part of Wolverhampton council’s wider regeneration programme to improve 414 of these homes across the city.

Councillor Steve Evans, City of Wolverhampton council deputy leader and cabinet member for housing, said: “This funding recognises the huge strides this council is taking to retrofit ageing council homes to provide the best quality of housing we can for our tenants.

“With the current high cost of energy, it is especially important we improve the energy efficiency of any poorly performing council-owned housing. Our priority is to deliver good homes in well-connected neighbourhoods and this investment programme demonstrates the council’s commitment to ensuring every resident has a safe and affordable home.

“Not only will these retrofit works improve the homes of our tenants and save them money they will also play a large part in meeting the city’s climate change challenge to be carbon neutral by 2041.”