Millions secured for warmer homes in South Cambridgeshire

More than £8 million in Government funding has been awarded to South Cambridgeshire District Council to improve the energy efficiency of Council homes.

The idea is to upgrade thousands of social homes across the country which are currently below the standard of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C.

Improvements to South Cambridgeshire’s Council homes could include insulation, ventilation, heating controls, double glazing, solar panels, and heat pumps - cutting bills and tackling fuel poverty.

South Cambridgeshire District Council will now work to allocate funding to properties with priority given to those most in need of energy efficiency improvements. Council tenants will be contacted direct if their home is able to benefit – with the aim for the Council to have as many of its 5,500 properties above an EPC rating of C in the next four years.

The funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is part of the national Warm Homes Plan. A total of £8,280,376 is being provided for South Cambridgeshire under the latest wave of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund scheme. South Cambridgeshire District Council will contribute £10 million from its Housing Revenue Account – consisting of Council house rents – to the improvements too.

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr John Batchelor, said: "Improving the energy efficiency of Council homes is one of the most impactful steps we can take to support our tenants – whilst reducing our own carbon footprint. We want to make this funding go as far as we possibly can and will be in touch with tenants direct if their homes will benefit. This will help cut energy waste and bills at a time when energy prices continue to rise, all while improving the overall comfort of our tenants’ homes. A well-insulated, energy-efficient home not only benefits tenants but also contributes to a healthier planet by decreasing reliance on fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We look forward to using this funding to continue creating more environmentally friendly living spaces for generations to come."

Meanwhile, the Council has also been awarded a share of £8.5 million through the Government’s linked Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme. This funding has been provided to councils in Cambridgeshire who are part of the ‘Cambridgeshire Energy Retrofit Partnership’. This includes Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Peterborough City Council, and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

It will be used to provide energy performance and low carbon heating upgrades to households with low incomes. Upgrades could include insulation, solar panels or an air source heat pump. Further details including household eligibility will be added to the Action on Energy website.