HUNDREDS of social housing tenants across Scotland are tipped to benefit following successful funding bids supported by Changeworks, a social enterprise that provides retrofit and energy advice services.
£2.6 million was secured for Midlothian Council, Cairn Housing Association, and Glen Housing Association during the latest round of applications to the Scottish Government’s Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund (SHNZF). The fund supports social landlords to install clean heating and energy efficiency measures in existing properties.
These projects will help nearly 200 households install measures such as external wall insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, and batteries.
Midlothian Council was awarded £1,045,527 to install air source heat pumps, solar panels, and battery storage to 98 properties in Rosewell. Cairn Housing Association was awarded £801,000 to fund the installation of external wall insulation and triple glazing to 64 homes. Fife-based Glen Housing Association was awarded £800,000 to deliver heat pumps, solar panels, battery storage, external wall insulation, and triple glazing to 30 properties.
Changeworks has previously worked with all three organisations on projects including stock analysis and net zero pathway reports.
Kenneth Fraser, programme manager at Changeworks, said, “It’s brilliant when our clients are awarded much deserved funding to help deliver their retrofit projects. Our team worked in close collaboration with Glen, Cairn and Midlothian to plan and deliver these bids which will now enable their tenants to live in warmer homes that are more affordable to heat.
“The Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund is an important grant initiative which helps organisations speed up and scale their energy efficiency plans. Changeworks has decades worth of experience in supporting organisations to deliver their retrofit projects, including finding the appropriate funding to turns plans into reality.”
Organisations that were unsuccessful in their SHNZHF bids are still encouraged to contact Changeworks to find out more about how they can work together.
