We have been working in partnership with the Wirral-based housing association since last year, when it was successful in securing £1.6 million under Wave 1 of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. Part of a group funding bid of more than £11 million, the total funding is being used to update and improve almost 1,250 homes across the Liverpool City Region.
Through our partnership, we are currently completing multi-measure retrofit works for 99 homes in Rock Ferry under the Wave 1 funding. This scheme covers a mix of mid- and end-terrace, and semi-detached homes of traditional solid wall construction in need of insulation to improve heat retention.
With the successful Wave 2 allocation of a further £1.8 million in funding, we are already working on plans to complete a further 161 homes across several neighbours including Woodchurch, Central Birkenhead, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead North End, and Noctorum.
The homes have been identified as being within the highest areas of fuel poverty and lowest areas of income. Work on the installation of new PermaRock mineral fibre external wall insulation (EWI) for the first 99 homes is almost complete, with loft insulation included too, creating an insulated building with a balanced ventilation system that retains more heat and reduces the amount of energy required to heat the home. It also reduces carbon emissions.
Our regional director Ian Jones said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Magenta Living to deliver their large-scale retrofit decarbonisation housing programme.
“It’s great to hear about the positive impacts customers are already experiencing, helping those in fuel poverty and most in need to reduce their energy bills, while also improving their comfort levels and wellbeing.
“With the current cost-of-living and energy crisis, these works are more important than ever, and we look forward to helping improve the lives of hundreds more Magenta Living customers under the next phase.”
Ian Thompson, Magenta Living’s executive director of assets and development, said: “Securing a further funding bid is another huge success for us. This project will significantly improve the lives of our customers who need it the most, given the challenge many are facing due to rising energy costs.
“This scheme is making and will continue to make our customers’ homes warmer and healthier as well as saving them money on their energy bills and supporting us on our journey to carbon neutral.
“One customer has told me already that his monthly energy bill has gone from £80 to £20 which is exactly the kind of result we want for our customers. Working with SBS, we are currently completing Wave 1 of the scheme and look forward to working with them on Wave 2.”
