Successful funding bid to create more energy efficient homes

More than 100 homes across the borough are to be made warmer and more energy efficient following a successful funding bid.

Funding worth £538,000 from the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund will be spent on retrofitting energy efficiency measures to 125 properties mostly in Blacon in Chester.

Once complete, the works - which will be carried out between April 2022 and the end of March 2023 - will mean the homes will be more efficient to heat and help to reduce the impact of rising energy bills.

The scheme is being delivered by Sanctuary, in conjunction with Cheshire West and Chester Council. 

Donna Williams, Sanctuary’s Group Director – Sustainability and Climate Change, said: “It’s such welcome news that we have secured a share of Government funding to make homes warmer and more energy efficient for our residents in Blacon.

"We’re committed to reducing our carbon footprint and we look forward to working with Cheshire West and Chester Council to get started on the work and see the benefits it will bring.”

Councillor Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Climate Emergency, said: “Improving the efficiency of low energy performance homes by applying deeper retrofit solutions will help families to tackle the recent rise in fuel bills.

“This successful funding bid will also play some part in helping us to tackle climate change, grow the local economy and make local neighbourhoods even better places to call home.”

The Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund totals £179m, which is administered by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Around 20,000 social homes across England will be made warmer and benefit from cheaper energy bills, supporting around 9,000 jobs in the green energy sector and delivering carbon emissions savings equivalent to taking up to 6,000 cars off the road in any given year.

Pictured - Housing in Blacon - The homes pictured will not specifically benefit from the works.