£1.5m funding to be given to Swindon for council housing improvements in Park South

Council tenants will benefit from energy efficient upgrades to their homes after Swindon Borough Council was awarded £1.5m from the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

The grant funding from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero will contribute towards a £5m investment programme in the Park South area.

Swindon Borough Council say this will see council homes that were built using non-traditional construction methods receive a number of energy-saving measures.

These will include improvements such as external wall insulation and draught proofing to ensure homes do not lose heat and become easier and cheaper to keep warm. This will aim to help tenants to maintain a comfortable living temperature throughout the year.

Solar panels will also be fitted to properties and the extensive refurbishment programme will include replacing UPVC windows and doors to create long-lasting efficient homes for tenants.

The council has a long-term vision to ensure that sustainability, carbon reduction and thermal efficiency are at the heart of its property improvement model. So far, 105 council-owned properties have benefitted from the installation of solar panels.

Cllr Steve Heyes, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Health Inequalities and Housing, said: “I am delighted that the Council has been successful in attracting this level of funding to make further improvements to our council housing stock.

“The funding will be a significant boost for our tenants delivering what I am sure will be well received work that improves the thermal comfort of their homes and helps to reduce their energy bills.

“I look forward to seeing work progress in the coming years.”

Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said: “This investment will help thousands of households to heat their homes for less, keep them warm for longer and could save hundreds on their annual energy bill.

“The green energy sector is growing, and this funding will support green jobs and provide the training needed to deliver these vital upgrades to homes.”