Newark and Sherwood District Council secures funding to transform homes with enhanced warmth and energy efficiency

Funding is available for both council-tenants and low income private-tenants. It has come from a £2,428,408 grant from the Department of Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) under the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, and an additional £1,056,000 from the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme.  These grants, combined with other match funding, will see the Council invest a total of £5,500,000 in upgrading both Council-owned and private rented homes over the next two years.

Councillor Lee Brazier, Portfolio Holder for Housing at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “This is great news for our tenants and those in the private sector too, as we are not only helping to reduce carbon emissions, we’re helping to cut bills. The targeted investment in older, less efficient properties will particularly support those affected by unstable and unpredictable energy prices.

“This is just one of the many ways the District Council is supporting its tenants and residents. Recently we also launched a new Council Tax relief scheme to ease the financial strain on households where someone is living with a terminal illness. We are committed to doing all we can to support those in our district who need it most.”

The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund will target Council-owned properties, focusing on improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Works will include low carbon heating systems, installing solar panels and battery storage, and other targeted measures to improve thermal comfort and tackle fuel poverty.

Meanwhile, the Warm Homes: Local Grant will support low-income households in the private rented sector, providing funding for energy performance improvements such as insulation, solar panels, window replacements, and low-carbon heating measures.

Residents who are eligible will receive upgrades free of charge, while landlords will be supported for their first qualifying property, with a partial contribution required for subsequent homes. Tenants and residents have already been identified and will be contacted by the Council to ask if they would be interested in the improvements to their homes at no cost to them.

Councillor Lee Brazier continues: “To ensure efficient delivery of the programme, we will work in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council and local charity Nottingham Energy Partnership, particularly for the private sector scheme. It’s through this proactive partnership working that we’re able to support so many in our district.”