Soha Housing can improve the performance of its least energy efficient homes, reduce carbon emissions and help lower its residents’ energy bills faster thanks to government funding.
The government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.1 (SHDF) has awarded the housing association a grant of £1.7m which Soha will match. This is part of the second wave of funding totalling £778m awarded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to social housing providers nationwide; it will speed up Soha’s work to improve the energy performance of 200 properties and get them up to a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Rating of C by March 2027.
Lee Hayward, Director of Property Services at Soha Housing, said: “Work will focus on the application of external wall insulation, installation of windows and doors and upgrading of loft insulation in our resident’s homes. We aim to have increased all Soha’s homes up to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2027 and for our homes to operate at Net Zero Carbon by 2050. We know building work can be intrusive however we will work hard with contractors to minimise the disruption for our residents.
“We will be encouraging residents to have this work carried out as it will result in cheaper energy bills, increased thermal comfort, reduced carbon emissions, and will mean we are helping to tackle climate change.”
Energy improvement work supported by the SHDF grant will start in the spring/summer and be completed by September 2025.
Notes
- Soha Housing manages over 7,400 homes across South Oxfordshire and neighbouring Districts from its offices in Didcot. The 200 homes receiving SHDF attention are spread across its territory.
- The government’s own press release is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/18-billion-awarded-to-boost-energy-efficiency-and-cut-emissions-of-homes-and-public-buildings-across-england
- For more information please contact in the first instance press@soha.co.uk or 01235 514427. Energy and Sustainability Manager Paul Neale is available for interview.