We’re committed to an ambitious council homes energy efficiency plan
Published: Tuesday, 28 September, 2021
As part of Stroud District Council’s ongoing commitment to address the climate emergency, its council homes are in line for more investment.
It will mean a reduction in emissions of up to 24.5%, with council tenants saving up to 11 % on fuel bills and includes decarbonisation and retrofit programme for the council’s 5,000 properties.
This new investment, which requires some borrowing, will mean on average council homes will meet SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) C ratings by 2030, to help meet the council’s Carbon Neutral 2030 Strategy.
Once approved by Full Council, the plan would mean a £180 million investment over the next 30 years which would support the council’s 2030 carbon neutral strategy.
Relieving fuel poverty and maximising carbon reduction is in line with the council’s agreed targets, adopted in the council’s Tenant Services Energy Strategy four years ago. The council already has a strong council house investment plan in place to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon production. This includes an annual £3m programme of external wall insulation, loft and cavity wall insulation, and new roofs and windows.
The Housing Committee resolved to support the investment plan on September 14.
“We recognise the clock is ticking on the climate emergency. We are doing a lot to address this but we can always do more - this critical and ambitious step means that we will sustainably invest in our housing stock,” said Housing Committee Chair, Councillor Mattie Ross. “This is really exciting and shows the council taking the lead in decarbonisation. We believe this carefully considered, ambitious programme is the best possible option as part of our commitment to tackle climate change. It will be regularly reviewed so that we can take into account advances in new technologies too.”
The council has also been successful with partners in a bid to the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator and the council will also pilot a range of new technologies, to help meet the SAP C rating.
The Housing Committee will now request the Housing Committee Retrofit Task and Finish Group consider the necessary programme delivery requirements, including tenant consultation and resource scheduling, and report back to committee in December 2021. The programme of investment will be considered by Full Council in February 2022.
To read the report in full, visit https://stroud.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s1116/Item%206%20-%20Options%20Apraisal%20Decarbonisation%20and%20Energy%20Efficiency.pdf
The 2030 strategy webpage can be found here
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