The government has released information about a new Sustainable Warmth Competition, which will award Local Authorities with funding to upgrade energy inefficient, low-income households in England through to 31 March 2023. This competition combines two existing schemes: the Local Authority Delivery scheme Phase 3 (LAD3) and the Home Upgrade Grant Phase 1 (HUG1).

£350 million worth of funding will be made available for Local Authorities to upgrade the worst insulated owner occupied and private rented homes, with energy efficiency and low carbon heating measures compatible with Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP). Homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E-G will be prioritised, but EPC D-rated homes can also be included.

Landlords who have low-income tenants (who meet the eligibility criteria) can also access grant funding, but they will be required to make a minimum contribution of one third of the total costs of works (this cost is capped).

The competition stipulates that a fabric first approach (of insulation and heat loss prevention measures) is strongly encouraged and will score highly against the ‘Strategic Fit’ assessment in the application form. This is why any project undertaken through Sustainable Warmth funding must adhere to PAS 2035:2019, with the requirement of a Retrofit Coordinator to lodge information into the TrustMark Data Warehouse. Moreover, energy efficiency measures must be delivered by installers who are certified to PAS 2030:2019, and all low-carbon heating measures must be installed by microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified installers.

This is not the first time that the government has recommended the use of PAS 2035:2019 when providing funding mechanisms for retrofit programmes- the pilot of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and the Local Authority Delivery scheme Phase 2 (LAD2) have also opted for a fabric first approach to retrofit upgrades.

Elmhurst’s Technical and Operations Director, Stuart Fairlie, is pleased to see government encouraging Local Authorities to use a quality retrofit framework: “The scope of government funded retrofit competitions is certainly changing and we welcome this new competition which reinforces the need for Local Authorities to adopt a fabric first, quality approach when upgrading domestic properties. Elmhurst has a number of retrofit members who can help with these projects, and we expect them to be very busy over the coming months”.

More information:

https://www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk/sustainable-warmth-competition

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-the-sustainable-warmth-competition

PAS 2035 information for Local Authorities: https://www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk/retrofit-in-social-housing

Find a TrustMark Approved Retrofit Professional: https://www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk/search-for-assessor