Warmer, Greener, Cheaper: UK Government declares triple win advancement for social housing

Almost 2.5 million families in the UK are living in poorly constructed social housing, unable to maintain reasonable temperatures due to their low income, consequently causing a detrimental impact on their health and mental wellbeing.

Aside from the extreme rental costs, fuel poverty not only continues to harm these families’ health and burdening the NHS with over £1.4 billion going towards treating these individuals, but it is also affecting the UK’s natural environment and biodiversity.

The government’s triple win upgrade for social housing aims to not only help tenants cut emissions while saving approximately £170 per year on energy bills, but also commit to increase energy efficiency across homes, schools and hospitals.

The first wave of funding will target 38,000 of the UK’s worst energy-performing social housing properties with the opportunity to receive vital energy efficiency upgrades, including installation of insulation and more energy efficient doors, windows and heating systems.

Furthermore, with homes accounting for 15% of the UK’s carbon emissions, this investment will help towards eliminating the country’s contribution to climate change by 2050.

Lord Callanan, Minister for Business, Energy and Corporate Responsibility, says, ‘’(this) is a vital step forward in eradicating UK fuel poverty and improving the lives and homes of low-income households, all while creating new work for local plumbers, builders and tradespeople who will be building homes fit for our greener future’’.

In addition, local authorities and housing associations across England will have the chance to secure a share in a significant £160 million cash injection through the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, set to enhance the country’s energy efficiency of socially rented homes.

This fund follows an earlier demonstrator phase in March 2021; it awarded £62 million to projects across England and Scotland which will look to upgrade approximately 2,300 socially rented homes to demonstrate innovative approaches to retrofitting social housing at scale, using a whole house approach.

Mrs Vivienne Challice, a tenant that social housing providers will be able to help through this scheme, said: ‘’the weather hasn’t been cold since the work was completed, and even on hot days, I noticed that my home was comfortably cool unlike before, which was great’’.

The Conservative Party continue to be under pressure to clarify plans for replacing the Green Homes Grant; these answers are likely to be addressed this autumn, ahead of COP26. As for the new buildings under ‘The Future Homes Standard’, properties built from 2025 will be ensured to produce at least 75% less greenhouse gas emissions, as opposed to those built to current standards, the UK Government claims.