We are delighted to announce that we have awarded energy and construction specialist ‘EcoGee’ the contract to deliver a £2.7 million investment to improve the energy efficiency of 287 homes in North Liverpool.
Cobalt Housing, which has approximately 6000 homes in the North Liverpool region, has worked in partnership with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) as part of a consortia of registered providers across the city region to bid for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF). Cobalt Housing will receive a share of the £31.7 million government funding to make homes across the Liverpool City Region more energy efficient by 2025.
More than 115,000 homes across England are receiving fabric-first measures to improve the energy efficiency of homes, tackle fuel poverty and save residents money on their bills. Collectively worth £1.4 billion, the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and Home Upgrade Grant will fund a wide range of energy-saving measures.
Installing retrofit measures to improve the energy performance of social housing properties is part of the government’s targets to ensure homes are ‘fit for the future’ and to reduce carbon emissions produced by a home and its household. These decarbonisation investment schemes will also create 20,000 jobs in the construction and home retrofit sectors, helping to grow the economy and create better-paid jobs, which will support families across the country.
Retrofit works will be delivered to improve the energy efficiency of 287 Cobalt properties, which currently have an energy performance (EPC) rated below SAP Band C. Home improvements include cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, ventilation, solar PV panels, low-energy lightbulbs and HomeLink digital sensory technology. In addition, homes will also benefit from additional works, including electrical rewiring and kitchen replacements as part of Cobalt’s commitment to invest in customers’ homes.
This programme aligns with Cobalt’s new Corporate Plan and Asset Management Strategy to “invest in our homes to ensure they meet the current and future needs of our residents”. It is part of a broader investment of £110 million in existing homes over the next ten years.
“We are delighted to be in partnership with a local company, EcoGee to use this investment to improve energy efficiency in our homes. Together, we can help reduce carbon emissions and our tenants’ energy bills while ensuring that the people in our community have high-quality, warm and comfortable homes for years to come,” says Ian Hancock, Director of Property at Cobalt Housing.
Prior to works commencing, all homes will have a retrofit assessment to identify the required energy measures in the property. The assessments will be carried out by Ridge and Partners, a multidiscipline property and construction consultancy working with Cobalt to support the delivery of this project.
“Ridge and Partners are delighted to support the decarbonisation and investment programme and provide a range of services, including Retrofit assessment, coordinator and contract administrators for Cobalt Housing. These improvements will assist in making homes more energy efficient,” says Grant Davidson.
EcoGee, founded in 2012, was recently shortlisted for the Green Homes Upgrade of the Year award at the 2023 Unlock Net Zero Awards for its commitment to creating sustainable construction solutions and reducing carbon emissions in homes. EcoGee delivers day-to-day repairs, voids, maintenance, and decarbonisation works throughout homes in Liverpool, helping to prevent people from living in cold homes.
“We are thrilled to have been chosen to work with Cobalt Housing on this vital scheme to deliver a £2.7 million investment to improve the energy efficiency of 287 homes in North Liverpool. In Liverpool and Sefton alone, there are more than 37,256 people living in fuel poverty so it is vital we make homes more energy-efficient to not only lower residents’ gas and electricity bills but to also reduce carbon emissions overall.
By working together with Cobalt Housing and Ridge and Partners, in partnership with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, we can build on economic growth by creating job opportunities and generating stability and pride within our communities. It’s fantastic that Cobalt Housing has recognised this and together we can forge a path towards a more energy-efficient, sustainable and prosperous future for all,” says Maria O’Connor, Operations Manager at EcoGee.
The programme of improvement works is due to start in September 2023 and is due to be completed by March 2025.
