Beyond Housing

5,525 families across the North East and Yorkshire will benefit from energy efficiency upgrades to their homes thanks to Government backing for an ambitious housing retrofit scheme.

Beyond Housing is delighted to be part of a consortium led by the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub that has successfully attracted funding from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.1 to deliver a £80 million retrofit project across the North East and Yorkshire.

This is made possible by a £32.4 million grant from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and £48.2 million from consortium partners, including £3.2 million from Beyond Housing, coupled with an additional £1.1 million grant funding, to deliver the £80.6 million scheme to 5,525 homes.

The North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub led the bid to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.1, which aims to raise the energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of social homes to a minimum of Band C.

A range of work will be carried out to dramatically improve the energy efficiency of properties across the region through a worst-first, fabric-first approach using measures such as external wall, loft, cavity wall, and underfloor insulation. Some properties will also receive renewable technologies such as solar photovoltaic panels or air source heat pumps, moving away from reliance on fossil fuels to power and heat these buildings.

They will help to reduce the number of people in fuel poverty and improve their comfort and health, while driving down CO₂ emissions and supporting the green economy and jobs.

Richard Cooper, Head of Asset Management at Beyond Housing, said: “We are delighted to receive this funding which will help us to invest in energy-efficient homes for our customers. We are aware, through our surveys, that some of our properties are less energy efficient than others. Investing in energy measures will make a valuable difference to our customers. It is a positive step towards our future goal of ensuring all our homes become energy efficient and carbon neutral.”

North East and Yorkshire Energy Hub Manager Karen Oliver-Spry said: “The success of this bid is great news for households in the area and builds on the achievements of the Hub’s LAD2 Green Home Grant scheme delivery in tackling poor energy performance in housing. This successful bid is one of several in the North East and Yorkshire, helped by Hub-funded support.”

The North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub made the bid on behalf of a consortium made up of Arches Housing Ltd, Assist Sheffield, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Believe Housing, Bernicia, Beyond Housing, Broadacres, Darlington Borough Council, Doncaster Council, Great Places, Hartlepool Borough Council, Humankind, Karbon, Livin, Northstar, Railway Housing, Sheffield council, South Tyneside Homes and Thirteen Group. The bid was supported by Tees Valley Combined Authority, the accountable body for the Net Zero Hub.

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF BEYOND HOUSING

CONTACT: Josh Mason on 01325 363436

Notes to editors:

Beyond Housing is one of the largest registered housing providers in the North East and North Yorkshire. With its regional offices in Redcar and Scarborough, the organisation is responsible for the letting, management and maintenance of over 15,000 homes across the North East and North Yorkshire.

Beyond Housing is committed to going beyond the bricks and mortar to help its communities and region thrive. By providing quality homes people want to live in alongside valuable additional services delivered by passionate people who want to help, Beyond Housing contributes to the prosperity, wider regeneration and sustainability of its communities, creating neighbourhoods that will flourish well into the future.

ANNEX 1 – NOTES TO MEDIA EDITORS

North East and Yorkshire (NEY) Net Zero Hub

The North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub is at the centre of the region’s ambitious efforts to drive a low-carbon, clean-growth future.

Funded by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Hub is one of five across the country, all focusing on helping the UK reach Net-Zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Our Hub combines six Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in the region, bringing local authorities, businesses, organisations and communities together to help us achieve our goals.

A Net Zero Hub Manager and small core team are based in Tees Valley Combined Authority with a Hub funded Energy Project Manager based in each of our six LEP areas. The LEPs are driving the transition to a zero-carbon economy with ambitious energy strategy and innovative project delivery.

Local Net Zero Hubs

The Local Energy Programme at BEIS supports five Local NET Zero Hubs across England. Each Hub is hosted by a lead local authority and works with LEPs and local authorities across a given region to realise their local net zero ambitions.

The Hubs have small teams that provide practical support and expertise to help develop investible energy projects. They also:

Work directly with local partners, particularly to build the opportunities for local action across the full range of energy and low carbon objectives.

Facilitate the delivery of national energy objectives at the local level and provide a route into government.

Utilise knowledge of local energy and low carbon activities across England to manage a range of local policies and support projects.

Work closely with colleagues across energy policy teams internally within BEIS.

Collect and collate information on: energy and carbon strategies; local commitments and aspirations; projects completed and in the pipeline, barriers to delivery; and local strengths and weaknesses.

Work to address key barriers including local engagement, finance, procurement, and communications.

Signpost to existing government support and resources, e.g., Re:fit, Salix, Heat Networks Delivery Unit, and the Energy Company Obligation, along with support provided by intermediaries such as the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE).

For more information on the Hubs, please contact: localenergy@beis.gov.uk