(Image: Supplied)
A North East housing provider has secured fresh government funding to help more vulnerable residents stay warm and cut their energy bills through a major programme of home improvements.
Tyne Housing, which supports people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, has been awarded further investment through the Government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund.
The funding will support energy efficiency upgrades across its housing stock as part of an £8.3 million, three-year retrofit scheme.
Tyne Housing solar panels
(Image: Supplied)
Steve McKinlay, chief executive of Tyne Housing, said: "Securing this additional funding is a fantastic endorsement of the work our teams and partners have done over the past year, rolling out the first phase of this project.
"Achieving all our Year 1 targets meant we were eligible to bid for further investment, and we're delighted this has now been approved.
"Through the programme, we're making real improvements to our housing stock, which will help some of the most vulnerable residents stay warm and live a better life.
Tyne Housing solar panels
(Image: Supplied)
"The additional funding means we can extend those benefits to even more homes across Tyneside."
The retrofit scheme is being delivered by a consortium of five North East housing providers, supported by Prosper, a procurement and collaboration specialist.
Funding is being provided by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and delivered through the North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub.
The first year of the programme has already seen upgrades completed, including new insulation and solar panel installations.
Tyne Housing has also received £423,186.92 in supplementary funding to install solar panels and/or batteries in at least 32 homes.
The additional investment will allow Tyne Housing to extend the scheme to more properties, improving comfort and reducing fuel costs for residents.
It is also expected to lower future maintenance costs, freeing up funds for further support services.
Improvements will include cavity wall, loft, and ceiling insulation, solar panels, internal heating controls, replacement glazing units, air source heat pumps, and low carbon lighting.
Each property will be assessed individually to determine the most appropriate upgrades.
The UK Government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (Wave 3) is a £1.29 billion scheme targeting homes below EPC band C.
It aims to make social homes warmer and more energy efficient, improve health and wellbeing, cut carbon emissions, and support the growth of green jobs and the retrofit sector.
Karen Oliver Spry, manager of the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub, said: "Securing this funding is a result of consortium partners’ delivery to date and demonstrates the scale of ambition across the North East and Yorkshire to improve social housing, reduce carbon emissions, and support residents to live in warmer, healthier homes.
"With this latest funding allocation, the programme will now support the upgrade of more than 11,000 social homes across the region – taking the total of Hub-supported homes close to 20,000 – helping residents benefit from improved comfort, better health and wellbeing, lower energy consumption, and potential savings on household energy bills.
"The programme will also support wider net zero ambitions while creating opportunities for local supply chains and the retrofit sector across the region."
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The North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub is part of a national network funded and directed by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero.
It helps local areas implement energy strategies and supports delivery of government policy, including the Warm Homes Plan and the Clean Energy 2030 ambition.
Tyne Housing will contact residents directly if their homes are selected for Year 2 improvements.
The funding and upgrades form part of a broader effort to tackle fuel poverty, reduce carbon emissions, and create healthier, more sustainable communities across the North East.