Housing association Thirteen has started work on a project that will see around 60 homes in Stockton on Tees being made more energy efficient.
Thirteen is working in partnership with Esh Construction on the £1.8m scheme in a bid to help customers save on their energy usage and drive down carbon emissions.
The scheme, in the Primrose Hill area of the town, is being supported by funding by the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, which was set up to support the installation of energy performance measures in social housing properties.
Taking a fabric-first approach, Thirteen says it is upgrading doors and windows in its properties, installing and upgrading insulation, while ensuring there is appropriate ventilation to reduce the risk of condensation.
These improvements are part of Thirteen’s strategy to have all of homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2030 and meet the government’s net-zero ambitions and also reach net-zero on its direct business emissions by 2035.
Thirteen’s executive director of assets, Paul Jenkins, said: “We know that older homes, like these are much less energy efficient, so retrofitting them with improved windows, doors, and insulation will make a big difference in helping to improve the energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of our homes.
“This is our second project of this kind, but the first for the Stockton area.
“We’re carrying out small pilots of up to one hundred homes and installing a range of sensors and technology, which will help us to understand the impact this is having on the homes and on our customers’ experience.
“It’s great to see another project underway and we are already planning further investment as we look to scale the retrofit of our existing homes.”
Esh’s head of retrofit solutions, Lisa Stafford, said: “Following the official launch of our dedicated retrofit delivery arm at the end of 2022, we are delighted to commence work on our first retrofit project with Thirteen.
“We are a TrustMark-accredited contractor and have acquired the knowledge and processes of the PAS2030 and PAS2035 standards as part of the accreditation process, both of which are required by the government to be an eligible installer.”
Thirteen says a large amount of social value commitments are included within the work to enhance the service for customers and the local community.
A dedicated team will be working on the estate to support customers throughout the project.
The scheme is part of Thirteen’s wider £50m investment plans for the year and five-year plan to invest £300m, which will be delivered on its properties across the north-east and Yorkshire.
Thirteen owns and manages around 35,000 homes across the north of England.
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Main image: Thirteen Group staff at the Primrose Hill scheme in Stockton on Tees. Credit: Dave Charnley Photography
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