Almost 50 homes in Oldham are set to benefit from energy-efficient upgrades to make them 'more comfortable'.

A £551,000 retrofit programme has been rolled out in Oldham to deliver energy-efficient measures to 47 homes in the borough.

The measures include new windows and doors, positive input ventilation and loft and wall insulation to make the homes "warmer, quieter and more comfortable".

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North West housing association Onward Homes has partnered with a local contractor, Sustainable Building Services, which specialises in net zero solutions, to deliver the programme.

The retrofit will improve the energy efficiency of the homes that currently have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) below Band C.

The funds come from a £37m pledge from the Government's social housing decarbonisation fund to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Sustainable Building Services operate all across the UK with projects totalling more than £10m already completed in the North West alone.

As part of the programme, the contractor will also invest £15,000 of social value back into the local community through local groups and projects.

Sandy Livingstone, Executive Director of Property at Onward, said: “Our objective is to provide homes that are affordable to rent and live in. 

"We have a target of retrofitting 1000 homes across the North West by 2025.

“The funding we have received from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund supports this ambition and will improve the energy efficiency of several homes in Oldham will build on the momentum of our existing retrofit programme.

"Through this programme with SBS, we can help reduce carbon emissions, while ensuring that the people in our Oldham community have warmer, quieter, and comfortable homes for years to come.

“We’re committed to working with local partners to do more, SBS share this ethos and will be delivering these improvements whilst providing some social value for the community.

"We look forward to continued engagement with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and our customers as we begin to deliver this work with SBS this month.”

Gary Lawson, Managing Director at Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd, added: “This project will see almost 50 families receive hugely beneficial decarbonisation measures that will transform both their homes and their quality of life.

"Not only will they see savings on energy bills, but they will also be more comfortable in their own homes and in turn, see both physical and mental wellbeing benefits too.

“We’re working to tackle the UK’s net zero goals one house at a time, and though the change each house makes to the planet pushes that journey forward, to residents, it’s also a world of difference.

“People are at the centre of our approach to decarbonisation, and we’re looking forward to working with Onward Homes on this scheme and in supporting the wider community too.” 

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