SBS has been appointed by Rykneld Homes and North East Derbyshire District Council under separate contracts to install retrofit measures to help around 700 properties reach an EPC rating C. Work will include external wall insulation, cavity wall and loft insulation, window and door replacements, solar photovoltaic systems and air source heat pumps. Fabric, renewable and clean heat measures are planned to provide a reduction in energy demand and a switch to low carbon heating.
Funding comes from the government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 (WH:SHF) and the newly launched Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH: LG), with work spanning both social and privately owned housing over the next three years.
Rykneld Homes’ £10.4m project, partly funded through WH:SHF, includes almost 400 properties; North East Derbyshire’s £5.1m project, funded through WH:LG, will target more than 300 households in the region.
SBS regional director Daniel Owens said: “Being appointed to deliver this scale of retrofit in North East Derbyshire is especially rewarding given our long-standing relationship with Rykneld Homes and the local council. We understand the local housing stock and community and have built foundations that will ensure trustworthy and efficient delivery from day one.
“These programmes enable us to continue making a real difference to people’s homes, health and energy bills, while contributing to local net zero goals and creating skilled jobs in the region. It is a fantastic opportunity to build on everything we have achieved here over the past decade, so we can’t wait to get started.”
SBS recently undertook a £21m retrofit scheme for Rykneld Homes that upgraded more than 640 properties under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.
Rykneld Homes deputy managing director Niall Clark said: “You only have to look at our track record of work with SBS and the partnership we have developed, to understand the difference we’re making in the region. SBS has worked extensively in North East Derbyshire, holding vast experience in the retrofit sector and vital knowledge of local housing.
“Through various schemes, we have improved thousands of homes with an approach that priorities customer engagement, as well as high quality results and service. The contractor’s values align very closely with our own, making this appointment an easy decision as we look to quickly mobilise our upcoming retrofit programme.”
SBS has been appointed to deliver both programmes via direct award through the Efficiency East Midlands (EEM) property improvements & decarbonisations works framework.