The first home retrofit assessments for Two Rivers Housing have been completed by Severn Wye as part of a four-year contract to make over 200 tenants’ homes in the Forest of Dean more energy efficient this year. Severn Wye is delivering PAS 2035 retrofit coordination, alongside retrofit assessments, technical design and quality assurance for the programme. Our specialists will also provide advice to tenants to help them make the most of the new systems in their home.
The planned improvements, including the installation of solar panels, heat pumps and improvements to insulation, will make tenant’s home warmer in winter and help tackle fuel poverty. Severn Wye’s additional advice and support will help hundreds of families get the most out of the changes to their home and support them in reducing the amount of energy they use.
Allison Cawley, director of energy services at Severn Wye, said:
“Too many people are struggling with the cost of keeping their homes warm. Energy efficiency improvements can make a real difference, helping people to stay warm and well at home while reducing their energy use. As well as saving money on household energy bills, there are significant carbon savings which make a positive impact on climate change.
We’re pleased to be working alongside Two Rivers Housing to ensure that each home receives the right improvements tailored for that property, so we can deliver lasting benefits for tenants.”
Two Rivers Housing has secured a £623,000 grant from Wave 3 of the government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund. The additional investment will increase the number of tenants’ homes that will benefit from energy-efficiency improvements this year to 237.
Sam Batt, Decarbonisation Manager at Two Rivers Housing said:
“We know that having a warm, safe, affordable home has a huge impact on people’s health, wellbeing and quality of life. That’s why we’re continuing to invest in improving the energy efficiency of our homes and tackling fuel poverty in our communities.
“Securing this additional government funding means we can reach even more homes, making energy-saving improvements sooner and helping more families.
“We’re delighted to be working with Severn Wye, an organisation that shares our commitment to tackling fuel poverty and providing additional support to those who need it.”
Two Rivers Housing applied for the funding in a joint bid with Stroud District Council, Gloucestershire City Homes and Cheltenham Borough Council. The housing association has completed energy improvement work in 655 homes since 2021 and is working at pace to bring all of its home up to EPC C or above by 2030.
