Close to 650[1] social housing properties across the North East will benefit from an £8.3m capital injection to significantly improve energy efficiency in people’s homes, tackle fuel poverty and help reduce carbon emissions.
Procurement and collaboration experts, Prosper, has facilitated a new consortium of five North East housing providers comprising North Star Housing, Tyne Housing, Livin Housing, Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes and Keelman Homes, to deliver the works over the next three years.
Collectively, all landlord partners will invest over £5.5m of match funding with £2.8m of grant funding coming from the Government’s Warm Homes Social Housing Fund (Wave 3).
Grant funding is being provided by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) with Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) acting as lead partner of the Warm Homes Social Housing programme which is delivered by the North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub.
Karen Oliver-Spry, Net Zero Hub Manager, commented: ”It’s great to see what consortium working and true collaboration can achieve; when smaller landlords procure together, they gain the buying power of a large portfolio – lower costs, stronger relationships, and better long-term outcomes for everyone involved.
“This fantastic partnership is part of a wider consortium of 22 local authorities and housing providers led by the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub. We have secured over £46m of government funding, and over £55m of match funding for energy efficiency improvements to over 9,000 homes.”
The works will be delivered through Prosper’s 2025 Decarbonisation and Investment Works Framework which provides landlords with an innovative and compliant ‘one-stop-shop’ solution. Following a thorough procurement process, Consett-based, Zenith Mechanical Services, has been appointed to install the decarbonisation measures for all landlord partners.
The combined £8.3m spend[2] will be split proportionately amongst each of the five housing associations depending on the number of homes being improved and the requirements needed. This will include eligible residential properties in Newcastle, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside, County Durham, Tees Valley and Wear Valley.
Energy efficiency measures will include new cavity wall, loft and ceiling insulation, solar panels, internal heating controls, replacement glazing units, air source heat pumps and low carbon lighting amongst other measures depending on a property’s age and individual requirements. The retrofit programme is expected to commence imminently and be completed with minimal disruption to residents and adjacent buildings.
Rod Brasington, Chief Executive of Prosper, explained: “This exciting new collaborative partnership has been founded after several conversations with our landlord partners to determine their objectives and how this could best be delivered to create true value and efficiency.
“Bringing the five landlords together and creating a robust partnership with Zenith Mechanical Services is fantastic news which will significantly improve the living experience of more than 650 residents right across the North East.”
In County Durham, Livin Housing has been awarded £357,500 (match funded to circa £635,000) to deliver upgrades to 55 homes, while Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes has been awarded £1,158,000 (match-funded to circa £5,158,000) to deliver improvements at 443 properties.
North Star Housing has been awarded £930,000 (match-funded to approximately £1,863,000) to deliver improvements at 86 properties across the North East, while Tyne Housing has been awarded £150,000 (match-funded to £300,000) to deliver improvements at 20 properties across Tyneside. Keelman Homes has been awarded £198,000 (match funded to £396,000) to deliver upgrades to 43 homes.
By coming together as a sector, efforts by individual housing providers will help achieve optimum energy efficiency standards across the North East’s total social housing stock, building on a collective commitment to reduce fuel poverty while guaranteeing residents live in warm homes.
The UK Government’s Warm Homes Social Housing Fund (Wave 3) is a £1.29bn scheme aimed at upgrading national housing stock that currently sits below an energy performance certificate (EPC) band C.
Announced in the Autumn Budget 2024, the initiative aims to deliver warm, energy efficient homes, improve the comfort, health and wellbeing of social housing tenants, reduce carbon emissions, support green jobs and develop the retrofit sector, with grant funded projects to be delivered between 2025 and 2028.
The works are expected to commence early 2026 and all residents will be contacted directly by their housing provider with more information.
Editors notes:
- About Prosper – Prosper builds collaborative partnerships with clients, taking the time to truly understand their project requirements. By developing tailored procurement solutions, the company creates value, drive efficiency and consistently delivers excellence. Prosper delivers a range of bespoke and compliant construction and new build procurement solutions for public sector partners, ensuring frameworks deliver value for money. An expert team combines deep knowledge of the built environment with a personalised approach, taking time to understand clients’ unique challenges and supporting at every stage to ensure project objectives are met with confidence and success. For more information, please visit our website at www.prosper.uk.com
- About North Star Housing Group – North Star Housing Group is a registered provider of social housing managing just over 4000 properties across the North East, comprising a mix of general needs and supported accommodation. North Star’s vision, values and organisational strategy are centred on creating and sustaining great places for people to live. They develop new homes, take on ambitious projects to empower communities and build varied and valuable community and tenant connections. For further information, please visit www.northstarhg.co.uk.
- About Tyne Housing – Tyne Housing is a charitable social housing provider which offers supported living properties in Newcastle, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside. For over 50 years, it has provided dedicated housing and support services to vulnerable adults who have experienced or are at risk of homelessness, creating the right foundations, environments and support to help residents thrive and live more independently. For further information, please visit www.tynehousing.org.uk
- About Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association – Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association is the largest almshouse charity in the UK, providing over 1,700 affordable homes, predominantly bungalows, across former mining communities in County Durham and the North-East. These homes provide retirement housing for more than 2,000 residents. The Association also has independent living schemes and leasehold schemes for the elderly. Please see www.durhamhomes.org.uk
- About Livin Housing – Livin Housing is an award winning, not for profit housing provider managing over 8,800 homes across County Durham, improving lives through sustainable homes and places. For more information, please visit www.livin.co.uk
- About Keelman Homes – Keelman Homes was set up in 2009 with the purpose of delivering new affordable homes for rent and shared ownership to the borough of Gateshead. As a registered charity and housing provider, it provides high quality homes that are warm, safe, secure and comfortable. For further information please visit www.keelmanhomes.org
- About Zenith Mechanical Services – Zenith Mechanical Services provides integrated heating and property maintenance services throughout the North-East and nationally. For further information, please visit www.zenithmechanical.com
- About North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub – North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub is part of a network of five Local Net Zero Hubs in England, directed and funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to support local areas and the communities they serve with the development and delivery of clean energy and heat projects. The Hub’s current objectives include supporting implementation of the government’s recently published Warm Homes Plan. As part of this work, the Hub manages a consortium of 22 local authorities and housing providers which has secured over £101m of grants and match-funding through the Warm Homes Social Fund and earlier national funding programmes, taking the total number of homes in the North East and Yorkshire made warmer, healthier and cheaper to heat through Hub-managed programmes close to 10,000.
- The consortium is led by the Tees Valley Combined Authority, the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub’s accountable body. Please go to: www.teesvalley-ca.gov.uk
[1] Estimated 644 properties across all providers.
[2] Grant Fund amount is £2,794,019.00, Match Fund amount is £5,558,934.00 equating to a combined total project allocation of £8,352,953.00