As part of a new five-year contract, Equans will install new energy efficient windows and doors to properties primarily Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Coventry and Mansfield.

The project will help to reduce carbon emissions and residents’ heating bills by significantly improving the thermal efficiency of the homes - a combination of houses, sheltered accommodation, bungalows and flats.

A second contract will see Equans deliver a retrofit scheme to upgrade the energy efficiency of 100 terraced properties in the Highfields area of Leicester.

Highly-efficient external, internal wall and loft insulation will be added to the homes, with their performance measured by smart thermostats to help inform PA Housing’s future stock improvement programmes.

It is estimated that residents could see a reduction in their energy bills of up to £800 each year as a result of these upgrades, with Energy Performance Certificates set to increase to a C rating, from a D or E currently.

This scheme has been made possible due to a £1.3million injection from the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, which aims to improve the energy performance of the country’s most inefficient socially rented homes.

Martin Ardron, Operations Director at Equans UK and Ireland, said: “With the UK’s housing stock generating such a high proportion of the country’s carbon emissions, it’s vitally important that we work together as a sector to achieve our net zero ambitions.

“As well as helping the environment, projects like this can also have huge benefits for residents –enabling them to live in warmer, more comfortable homes that they can heat sufficiently. I’m sure the residents of the properties being improved through this refurbishment programme will notice a huge difference, particularly during the colder months.”

Donna Brace, Director of Asset Management at PA Housing, said: “Providing our residents with a safe, secure and warm property that they’re proud to call their home is central to what we do at PA. 

“We’re excited to be working alongside Equans to deliver these important upgrades that will greatly improve the quality and energy efficiency of our residents’ homes for years to come.”