RBH secures funding to improve the energy efficiency of Smallbridge homes

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The SHDF aims to upgrade a significant amount of social housing stock currently below EPC Band C, delivering warm, energy-efficient homes

A collaborative bid between Greater Manchester Housing Providers (GMHP) and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) has been successful, with Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) being awarded £160k to improve the energy efficiency of homes in Rochdale.

The money will be used to upgrade the energy efficiency of 16 RBH homes in Smallbridge.

Clare Tostevin, RBH Director of Growth, said: “This funding will help RBH rise to the climate emergency through greener, low carbon and climate-resilient communities.

“As a mutual, we will be working closely with tenant and employee members to shape our approach and we have already started this discussion with our elected tenant and employee representatives to discuss and agree our plans.

“We are already working with tenants at 23 homes in Smallbridge to improve the fabric and energy efficiency of their home and this grant will help us get moving straight away with another 16 homes.”

This funding provides a great opportunity for RBH to accelerate the journey to zero-carbon, reduce energy needs of tenants, and support wider efforts to create cleaner, greener communities. This project will act as a demonstrator to inform RBH's longer-term plans to ensure all its homes meet good energy efficiency standards.

Sara Rowbotham, Deputy Leader of Rochdale Council and Chair of the Rochdale Climate Emergency Working Party, said: "I am really pleased that RBH has been able to access this funding to help improve homes in the borough. It is an example of great partnership working to help meet the challenge of the climate emergency that we all need to rise to”.

The SHDF is a £3.8bn funding commitment, delivered through the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to improve the energy performance of social rented homes, on the pathway to Net Zero 2050.

It aims to upgrade a significant amount of social housing stock currently below EPC Band C, delivering warm, energy-efficient homes, reducing carbon emissions and tenants' energy consumption, tackling fuel poverty, and supporting green jobs.