Keeping our homes safe, warm and affordable to live in is one of our top priorities, and we’re delighted to have secured an additional £500,000 from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), with the support of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA).
This latest extension brings our total SHDF funding for this programme to £2.6 million, up from £2.1 million previously. We will also match the additional funding, taking the total new investment to £1 million, all of which will be delivered during the 2025/26 financial year.
So far, the programme has supported improvements to 451 homes. The new funding will enable us to deliver energy efficiency upgrades to a further 60 homes, helping to bring them up to the required standard. It also supports our commitment to ensuring all homes meet EPC C or above by 2030, reducing energy bills for residents while cutting carbon emissions.
Improvements include a combination of measures, such as loft and wall insulation, ventilation improvements, the installation of solar panels and, in some cases, upgrading homes with traditional gas boilers to more energy-efficient air source heat pumps.
This is the second year in a row that we’ve received extra funding, reflecting our strong track record of meeting delivery targets early and demonstrating our ability to bring forward improvements at pace.
The works will be carried out by Ecogee, continuing our longstanding partnership built on delivering high-quality retrofit and insulation projects.
This programme forms part of our wider commitment to invest in quality homes, with £110 million set to be spent upgrading existing properties by 2033.
Ian Hancock, Executive Director of Property at Cobalt Housing, said:
“We’re delighted to secure this additional funding to improve even more homes across our communities. It recognises the hard work of our teams and partners, and it means we can go further and faster in improving the energy efficiency of our homes.
“By upgrading a further 60 properties, we’re helping our customers stay warmer, reduce energy costs, and reduce energy costs.”
Gill Kelly, Managing Director at Ecogee, said:
“Working with Cobalt Housing on this next phase of improvements as part of our longstanding partnership is something we’re incredibly proud of. We see the difference that warmer, more energy‑efficient homes make to people’s lives.
“Cobalt truly shares our commitment to putting communities first, and together we’re delivering upgrades that provide real, lasting benefits for residents while supporting a more sustainable future. These improvements create healthier, more comfortable homes and strengthen the long‑term wellbeing of the communities we serve.”
