215 properties in Wythenshawe, Manchester are set to receive retrofit decarbonisation measures designed to change the lives of those living in them. The work will be delivered under an £8.75 million project for Wythenshawe Community Housing Group.
This decarbonisation project is set to support and make a comparable difference to the lives of people living in energy inefficient properties. The project is expected to take up to 10 months to complete, with a projected end date of September 2025.
The planned upgrades installed in the properties will raise the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings to a C or above, helping residents reduce energy costs and improving the quality of living conditions – contributing to better physical and mental wellbeing.
Wythenshawe Community Housing Group secured funding under the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.1. Each semi-detached house will receive a bespoke assortment of retrofit measures, which could include the installation of external wall insulation, along with replacement windows, loft insulation, bathroom ventilation and door undercuts.
Regional director Ian Jones said: “External wall insulation is just one of the many ways that we can support people with decarbonisation projects. These combined decarbonisation retrofitting measures will help keep homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer, likely reducing energy costs, lowering the carbon footprint and increasing the longevity of a property. SBS is pleased to be working on this project with Wythenshawe Community Housing Group and is looking forward to the wider social impact that this project will have on the local community.
“These decarbonisation efforts will ensure families and people residing in these homes have better living conditions, which in turn improves health and wellbeing too. With a strategic plan that brings wider benefits to the local area, these measures will see that no home is left unnecessarily damp, cold or energy inefficient. People are at the centre of our approach to decarbonisation, and we’re looking forward to working with Wythenshawe Community Housing Group on this scheme.”
In comparison to other projects of this scale, there is an added level of complexity due to the nature of the roof type found on the properties. The properties have mansard roofs which require a different level of specialist skill to navigate. A mansard roof requires a greater level of precision when it comes to installing the insultation due to their shape, which means the amount of materials and labour needed will be higher than many other decarbonisation projects.
In a project of this scale, the volume of properties and the skills needed to accomplish these retrofitting measures is significant. The demand for roofers and joiners will need to be reflected in the task at hand, increasing employment opportunities for those in the local area.
This will accompany the appointments of a site manager, local site workers and a resident liaison officer to cover the duration of the project, adding economic and employment benefits as part of the scheme’s wider ambitions for the community.
Adrian Waywell, project manager at Wythenshawe Community Housing Group (WCHG), said: “We’re committed to working with SBS to deliver these improvements, while also considering and contributing to wider social value opportunities for the community. This initiative will see over 200 households receive vital decarbonisation measures that will transform their homes and quality of life.
“We are in the early stages of the programme and happy to say that the works have got off to a good start and collaboration between SBS and WCHG is going well.”
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