Arcus are working in partnership with Thirteen Housing and ESH Construction to retrofit 55 existing properties in the Primrose area of Stockton-on-Tess, to improve their energy performance. The project is being funded 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, the retrofit measures include upgrading doors and windows in its properties, installing and upgrading wall (EWI) and loft insulation, while ensuring there is appropriate ventilation to reduce the risk of condensation. This measure will help to improve the energy efficiency of the properties, reduce customer energy usage and improve the aesthetics of the estate.
These improvements are part of Thirteen’s strategy to have all of its homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2030 and meet the government’s net-zero ambitions by 2050 and also reach net zero carbon on its direct business emissions by 2035.
Paul Jenkins, the group’s executive director of assets, 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…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.”