Rotherham homes set for trailblazing eco makeovers

Rotherham residents are among the first in the country to benefit from thousands of pounds worth of refurbishment works, thanks to a major government initiative.
Six Brampton Bierlow council tenants will see home improvements carried out in order to make their properties more energy efficient and drastically reduce carbon emissions as part of the £17 million ‘Retrofit for the Future’ competition.
Wath-based Bramall Construction will carry out the work in partnership with arm’s length management organisation 2010 Rotherham, after being awarded £150,000 funding in the competition.
‘Retrofit for the Future’ was launched by the Technology Strategy Board, backed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, with the aim of bringing existing housing up to excellent environmentally friendly standards.
The competition was promoted heavily in Yorkshire by Yorkshire Forward in the run up to the competition in order to ensure regional businesses were aware of the competition and the wider innovation agenda.
The project in Brampton is one of 87 that have received funding to showcase innovative, environmentally sustainable housing. Bramall is the only contractor in Yorkshire to be selected.
Over 400 applications were received from companies nationwide. This was then reduced to around 190 in the initial design phase. Organisations including housing associations, architects and construction companies received up to £20,000 each to carry out full feasibility studies and devise innovative proposals.

Work will be carried out on the six Rotherham council properties to improve energy efficiency, including improvements to insulation using sustainable products such as paper, wood fibre insulation and reducing fuel consumption by installing solar thermal heating systems, PassivHaus heating systems and many other environmentally friendly products.
Dave Booth, Commercial Director at Bramall Construction, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the delivery of this programme in the town. By working with 2010 Rotherham, we are helping to turn their ambitions for environmentally sustainable housing into reality.

“It is important that we look at every opportunity to ensure that our existing housing contributes towards meeting the Government’s emissions reduction targets.”

Matthew Spittles, Operations Director at 2010 Rotherham, said: “2010 Rotherham is delighted to be working in partnership with Bramall Construction on this exciting opportunity to improve the energy efficiency of our customers’ homes, whilst contributing towards Rotherham’s carbon reduction objectives.

“This project will provide real health and lifestyle benefits for our customers, as well as cost savings on fuel bills, which we hope to emulate on other properties in the borough to eventually eradicate fuel poverty.”

On the day the successful schemes were announced, Housing Minister, John Healey, said: “New homes are 40 per cent more energy efficient now compared to 2002, but we must and can do more. The announcement means that many of the homes owned by councils and housing associations – almost a quarter of the UK’s housing stock - will be made-over using innovative ideas from the competition. This will make them warmer, greener and cheaper to run.”

The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led public body, established by the Government to promote and support research into innovation. It is sponsored by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
The Government has set a target for an 80 per cent cut in carbon emissions from buildings by 2050.