150 homes in Northampton neighbourhood will be made more energy efficient as part of Government scheme

A number of homes in a Northampton neighbourhood will be made more energy efficient this summer as part of a Government scheme.

Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) has been awarded funding from the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

As a result of this funding, the housing association has launched a project called ‘Northampton Whole House Refit’, which will target homes built in the early 20th century due to their energy inefficiency.

The project will kick off in Kingsthorpe where 150 homes will be made more heat and energy efficient by implementing improved insulation, ventilation, new windows and new heating systems.

Work will begin in summer 2021 and residents will be able to stay in their homes during the works.

Helen Town, assistant director for asset management and development at NPH said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that we’ve received this funding to improve homes in Kingsthorpe.

“Around one in 10 families in Northampton experience fuel poverty, and we know that the residents living in these homes face high bills trying to heat their homes, especially in the

colder months.

“This project will help to lower energy costs and will make their home environment much more comfortable all year round.”

Residents of the homes where the improvements are made should find their properties easier to heat and should see a reduction in energy bills.

Issues with ventilation, damp and condensation should also be improved.

Once work is complete, the homes will be some of the most energy efficient properties managed by NPH.

Around 400 homes in the area are eligible and NPH has written to all of those properties, however only 150 will be part of the project to begin with. Residents who are interested must respond to the correspondence quickly.

The housing association hopes to extend the project to more homes in the future.

Feedback from residents and data from the new systems will be used to make sure the work has been effective.

Researchers from the University of Northampton’s Institute for Social Innovation and Impact will be working with NPH to assess the impact on residents’ health and wellbeing.

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