Under Wave 2 of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF), Equans successfully supported the councils to secure £1.5 million, a figure they matched, to retrofit 100 properties, after both councils declared a climate emergency in 2019 – pledging to have all socially rented properties upgraded to a minimum EPC C rating. 

Equans, once again, worked with Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils to support in their Wave 3 application, in which they have been awarded £3m to ensure another 168 homes will benefit from deep retrofit measures, vastly reducing their energy bills.

The scope of decarbonisation and energy efficiency works includes the extraction of old cavity wall and loft insulation, which will be refilled with modern, high-performing insulation; as well as replacement windows and doors. 

Equans’ work under the previous wave has resulted in average carbon savings of 1.9 tonnes CO2 per year across the 100 properties, with some homes even seeing a 54 point uplift in EPC rating, from F to B.

Rob Young, Regional Managing Director, Equans UK & Ireland, said: “We have seen first-hand how retrofit can change lives.  The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund has been revolutionary in offering access to funds that can make homes warmer and more affordable for some of the most vulnerable groups in the country.

“We have supported social housing providers across the UK to secure and deliver £320 million of work through the fund and the results speak for themselves.

“We are proud of the work we delivered in Wave 2 and are pleased Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils have once again, trusted us to overhaul the properties under Wave 3 funding.” 

Richard Spencer, Head of Asset Investment and Compliance, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils, said: “We are delighted to have delivered our first tranche of energy efficiency works via the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund here at Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Councils alongside our delivery partner Equans. The success of our first wave has seen over 400 measures installed and 100 of our worst performing properties upgraded to a minimum EPC C rating, a huge milestone for us. 

Given the successes and positive feedback from our residents on WH:SHF:Wave 2 we are proud to announce that we will be partnering with Equans Regeneration Ltd again to deliver our WH:SHF:Wave 3 scheme. This will see a further 168 properties retrofitted across the next year and a half as we take another step towards our Green Plan target to be EPC C by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050. We look forward to our next phase!”

Work is now currently underway and is scheduled to complete in March 2027