Mansfield is one of 19 areas nationally to pilot a scheme to upgrade council housing to make them more energy efficient, cutting fuel bills by up to £500 a year and reducing carbon emissions.
Mansfield District Council has accepted funding of £360,000 from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Demonstrator Project, in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council.
The grant is being match-funded from the council's Housing Capital Programme to enable 12 council flats at Farnsfield Court and Shireoaks Court on the Bellamy estate to benefit from a whole house external insulation retrofit. The first stages of the project have already commenced, including the erecting of scaffolding.
The work involves a complete approach to making homes more energy-efficient, focusing on the fabric of the house first.
Improvements will include new triple-glazed windows, replacement external doors and door entry system (where required), increased loft / roof insulation and external wall insulation. Ventilation will also be improved and managed by the use of mechanical fans and ducting.
These improvements will increase the effectiveness of the building in dealing with heating efficiency in winter and cooling of the properties in the summer months.
Cllr Marion Bradshaw, Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities, Housing and Wellbeing, said: "We expect this work to significantly reduce heat loss and running costs for our tenants, and support those facing fuel poverty. It is estimated that those living in upgraded properties will save between £300 and £500 on their energy bills each year.
"The work will also significantly reduce property emissions, which will contribute to the council's efforts to achieve net zero on carbon emissions by 2040.
"The properties chosen for this scheme all border the Bellamy Centre redevelopment site and will therefore support the wider objectives of that regeneration activity on the estate.
"While this work does carry a cost for the council, it is hoped that involvement at this stage will stand the council in good stead for future funding streams."
The work is being led by Nottinghamshire County Council, working with public sector owned company Arc Partnership, which is undertaking all pre-construction, design, project management and cost management works.
Construction will be delivered by Wates Group Ltd, which has extensive experience in delivering this type of work. The council has provided tenants with guidance and will support them to engage with the programme throughout.
The pilot will be evaluated by Nottingham Trent University and ongoing monitoring of resident experience and energy usage will be overseen by Mansfield District Council.
The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund was launched as part of the Government’s commitment to reach net zero on carbon emissions by 2050 and it is hoped the pilot scheme will lead to larger-scale programmes and proposals across Nottinghamshire.