Social Housing Decarbonisation Project Success

125 of Folkestone & Hythe’s council-owned homes have been brought up to date with a range of energy efficient measures making them cheaper to run for tenants.

Measures such as insulation, solar panels, and heating upgrades have been fitted to the homes which were most in need of the upgrades and tenants are already seeing their household bills reducing.

The work was paid for by the council partially match funding a grant from Wave 1 of central government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and was completed last month (March).

Property assessments for Wave 2.1 of the SHDF funding have begun and will enable the council to improve the energy efficiency of a further 300 homes over the next two years.

The funding has again been matched by F&HDC and will cost £5.2 million, bringing the total spend on improving the homes and wellbeing of tenants to £8.2millon.

A council spokesperson said:

"Following the completion of the first wave of funding it is fantastic to see the positive impact that it has brought for both the tenants and their homes."

"We look forward to continuing to improve the wellbeing and comfort of our tenants as we begin the second stage of the project."

Amanda French, a tenant whose home was part of the project, said:

"The workmen did a great job they were clean and tidy. I am overjoyed with the heating, it is so much cheaper.

"I am now able to be in a nice warm home and it is reassuring not to have to choose between health and finances."