Estates benefit from energy makeover programme

Published by Craig Downs for Keepmoat in Housing and also in Communities, Environment

Homes across Merseyside are benefitting from a new energy saving programme that is not only helping residents to make their homes warmer, greener and cheaper but is also improving the physical appearance of their neighbourhood.

Housing and regeneration specialist, Keepmoat has teamed up with Wirral Partnership Homes to carry out home energy improvements for residents and owner occupiers.

Up to 750 homes in the north end of Birkenhead and on the Woodward and Dell Estates are included in the scheme, which is part of the Government-backed Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) and includes free solid wall insulation, loft insulation (including top ups), boiler replacements, new canopies, soffits, fascias and guttering.

Once completed, home owners are expected to save hundreds on their annual fuel bills. Feedback from local residents suggests that they have already noticed a difference in fuel consumption by the amount they put into prepay meters which has almost halved per week.

Local resident, Anastasia Jones fromWoodward Roadhas seen a huge improvement.  She said: “Since theWoodward Roadproject started, my home has been so much warmer.  I am looking forward to my fuel bills going down.

“The street looks miles better now, and having the management team based on the estate has improved things too.  The neighbourhood has already changed a lot.”

The work is part of a major regeneration project by Wirral Partnership Homes to make improvements on these estates and improve the physical appearance of the neighbourhoods.

The contract will see a total of 353 homes in the north end of Birkenhead and 315 homes on the Woodward and Dell Estates receive these improvements.  In addition, up to 80 owner occupiers on the Woodward and Dell Estates will receive works to their homes.

Steve Parrington, Area Director for Keepmoat, said: “The energy saving programme not only makes homes more energy efficient but also helps residents to save money on their bills.  The feedback we have received from local residents has already been very positive and it is even more important now that winter is fast approaching.

“The homes on Woodward Estate were built in 1929 so improvements such as solid wall insulation, replacements of soffits, fascias and guttering makes a huge difference to the appearance of these homes and the estate.  Improvements to these homes is only one part of the wider regeneration project which is being delivered by Wirral Partnership Homes and we are pleased to be involved in making a difference to these areas.”

Richard Woolfall, Assistant Director Asset Management at Wirral Partnership Homes, said: “The physical and social regeneration impact of this project can not be under estimated.  The tangible benefits that have resulted from the successful delivery of this project have been widespread, ranging from notable reductions in the level of anti social behaviour and the number of empty properties, to significant savings in tenant fuel bills. 

“This project, which when taking into account all regeneration initiates will be in excess of £8 million, is seen as a good practice case of effective partnership working and will act as a blueprint for future Wirral Partnership Homes low carbon regeneration projects.”