Energy Efficiency Upgrades Completed for nearly 1000 Social Homes

More than 900 households across the Midlands and Wiltshire now have warmer homes and lower fuel bills following a £12 million energy-efficiency upgrade programme.

The Matrix Housing Partnership, comprising seven social housing landlords, secured government funding in March 2023 to improve the energy performance of more than 900 homes.

The Matrix Housing Partnership is made up of Black Country Housing Group, Citizen Housing Group, Pioneer Housing and Community Group, Rooftop Housing Association, Trent & Dove Housing, and Trident Housing Association.

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Energy efficiency is one of the key sector-wide priorities in social housing, with the government looking to break down the UK’s carbon emissions and reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels, a dependency which has been exposed in light of the Iran War.

Widespread energy-efficiency upgrades have been incentivised by central government, but the success of right-wing politics across a number of local constituencies has added weight to increasing politicisation of the issue.

Ruth Cooke, Chair of the Matrix Housing Partnership and Chief Executive of GreenSquareAccord (GSA), said:

“With the project now complete, I am proud to say that 906 households are benefiting from lower fuel bills and more comfortable living spaces.

“This has been achieved through our pioneering consortium model, which has enabled us to pool resources and share best practice throughout the project.

“Across England, combined authorities are now leading consortia to deliver retrofit projects through the Warm Homes Fund, demonstrating the strength of our approach.”

The partnership secured funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and worked together to upgrade more than 900 social homes.

Caste Vale resident Mr Hubbard said:

“The flat is much nicer, cleaner and warmer, and much nicer to look at. The improvements have made a big difference to comfort, energy efficiency and the overall look and feel of my home.”

Mr Hubbard, a customer of The Pioneer Group, benefited from new windows, new doors and improved insulation.

Gareth Keith, Director at GJK Consultants, which provided bid and strategic programme support to the Matrix consortium throughout the programme, said:

“It was a pleasure to work with an innovative consortium of seven social housing providers of varying sizes that collaborated closely throughout. The consortium submitted its bid together and jointly tendered for and procured the same contractor, achieving economies of scale and delivering value for residents across the West Midlands and Wiltshire.”