Hundreds of homes in Oldham have been given 'green makeovers' in the first wave of a multi-million retrofit to slash energy bills.
Around 200 homes across the borough have been made more energy efficient as part of a trailblazing multi-million-pound programme to transform 3,800 properties between 2023 and 2028.
The first wave of the First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) scheme has seen homes in Royton, Failsworth, Chadderton, Shaw and Oldham with a raft of eco improvements to make them warmer, cheaper to heat and more environmentally friendly.
This includes 160 properties fitted with solar panels while 19 homes received loft insulation and a further 23 received triple-glazed windows and eight insulated doors have been fitted.
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to The Oldham Times’ morning and evening newsletters as well as our breaking news alerts
Delighted residents include Mary Clancy, who has been an FCHO customer for 36 years.
The 60-year-old says since having solar panels installed to her semi-detached home in Chadderton, her energy bills have reduced and her electricity costs have halved.
Ms Clancy said: “It's been a lot better energy-wise.
"I get most of my things done through the day and it’s halved what I spent on electricity.
“It’s good for the environment too and I’m glad I had it done because it's saving a lot of money.”
The makeovers, delivered by Connolly throughout 2023, means the homes now have a minimum C band energy performance certificate (EPC) - a standard the government is encouraging landlords to work towards where possible.
It is also hoped the scheme will help meet Net Zero targets and reduce household bills by up to 30 per cent as well as save a combined 225 tonnes of carbon per year - the equivalent of planting 9,000 trees a year to offset emissions.
The first wave of the year-long project comes as the social housing provider promises to contribute £3.4m into the scheme on top of the £2.8m it received through both wave one and wave two of the government's Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).
This makes it the third-largest SHDF programme across Greater Manchester.
A survey on a further 700 homes in the borough are also currently in the midst which will determine the eligibility for homes for funding made available in the future.
Steve Mather, FCHO Executive Director of Homes, said: “Working towards net zero generates a range of opportunities for customers and the communities we serve by lowering energy bills and reducing fuel poverty within our neighbourhoods.
“We'll see more jobs created, the opportunity for local people to gain new skills and for local contractors to deliver our investment programme.
"It'll be great for the economy, great for FCHO and great for our customers as part of our commitment to upgrade 3,800 homes.”
Cllr Abdul Jabbar, Oldham Council Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources, added: “It’s great news that Oldham residents will directly benefit from these improvements provided by First Choice Homes Oldham.
"The changes will not only be better for their pockets, but also keep them warmer during the winter months.
"We’re working hard to be the greenest borough in Greater Manchester and we’re making great progress, but we recognise this has to be a collective effort.
“These improvements complement our Green New Deal Strategy – our plan to make council buildings and street lighting carbon neutral by 2025, and for the borough to be carbon neutral by 2030."
Cllr Tom Ross, GMCA lead for the Green City Region, also said: “Ongoing work to reduce the energy used in homes across Greater Manchester is playing a vital role in reducing both carbon emissions and energy bills, helping make our city-region a greener and fairer place for all.
"It’s fantastic to see how tenants are already benefitting from the many improvements being made to their homes, all whilst supporting the growth of the retrofit employment sector and contributing to Greater Manchester’s long-term environmental vision – to be carbon neutral by 2038.”
If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here