A report going to a meeting of the full council today (12 July) will seek approval for the final funding required to deliver the largest sustainable homes investment programme in Manchester’s history.
The investment, which will cover the next two years, will see more than 2,100 homes receiving energy-efficiency works – alongside wider home upgrades – as part of the city’s aim to become net-zero carbon by 2038.
The council has already successfully bid for two major funding pots from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), with the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) bid being part of a consortia bid by Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
£49.7m will be invested in 1,603 council-owned homes to improve sustainability through a range of works, which include better property and roof insulation, solar paneling, new boilers or heating systems, and air and ground heat pumps
This includes £11.6m from DESNZ’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and a £38m contribution from the council’s capital programme.
Part of this funding will be also used to deliver a range of decent homes investments in the same properties, including building safety and fire safety work, to limit disruption to the residents while work is taking place.
Currently, the grant funding is limited to properties rated EPC D or below, with the expectation that the measures will improve most properties to EPC C rating – and to EPC B in some cases.
Retrofit surveys to inform the extent of the programme of work are already underway, with the whole programme expected to be completed in September 2025.
There are a further 1,538 social homes owned by the city’s registered providers that will be retrofitted through their own SHDF schemes.
Home Upgrade Grant
Home Upgrade Grant (HUG phase 2) funding will also be used to boost the energy efficiency of private properties
This funding will be used to support low-income households in the private sector to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
£10m from DESNZ’s Home Upgrade Grant fund will be provided to help improve the EPC rating of 500 privately owned homes from D or below to C.
The funding targets properties that do not currently use gas as their main heating fuel and those meeting other criteria set by DESNZ.
This programme of work will begin later in 2023 and will be completed by March 2025.
Manchester’s net-zero journey
The council’s Housing Strategy that was agreed last year looks to retrofit a third of all social housing in the city to become EPC band B by 2032 as part of the journey to become a net-zero-carbon city by 2032.
Manchester has a high number of social homes compared with similar cities; around 70,000 homes are for social rent, and of these, around 16,000 are owned by the council.
The council’s Housing Services team plans to retrofit 60% of the council-owned properties by 2032.
‘Significant’ challenge
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for Housing and Development, said: “Housing is a major source of carbon usage, and therefore investing in energy-efficiency measures is a key element of our journey to become a zero-carbon city by 2038.
“This £60m represents the biggest investment in low-carbon retrofit works in our history and is testament to our commitment to reducing our collective carbon emissions.
“The challenge is significant but one we need to tackle head on. We have around 70,000 social-rented homes in the city – 16,000 owned by the council – and we have committed to retrofitting 60% of those that we own by 2032.
“We also need residents to come on this journey with us. These works will require us to work directly with council tenants and private owners – and although inevitably there will be some short term disruption, the end product is warm, healthier, more efficient – and ultimately cheaper to run – homes for our residents.”
Cllr Tracey Rawlins, Manchester City Council’s executive member for Environment and Transport, said: “This is an incredibly ambitious investment by the council helping to retrofit homes in the city that are in the most part dominated by pre-war and mid-century properties, many with lower standards of insulation and poor energy performance ratings.
“Retrofitting older housing is an emerging field that requires a broad range of works and is currently very expensive.
“We would urge for more national funding to be made available to support councils to invest in our homes and support our journey to zero-carbon.”
She added: “However, there is also opportunity here. A broad range of skills are required with significant opportunities for work in the coming years to meet the retrofit agenda.
“In the last year alone, 500 people across Greater Manchester had gained the skills to meet the retrofit challenge, and we would encourage people to find out how they can get involved.”
Image credit: Sam foster/Shutterstock
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