Agenda item

A Presentation from the Energy Efficiency Project Manager at SE Energy Hub on the Sustainable Warmth Project.

Members received a presentation from Clare Watters, the Energy Efficiency Project Manager at Greater Southeast Net Zero Hub on the Sustainable Warmth Project. The Sustainable Warmth Scheme brings together two fuel poverty schemes: 1. LAD3: support for low-income households heated by mains gas. 2. HUG1: support for low-income households off the gas grid.  Previously the LAD2 scheme had both private and social housing. This is mainly focused on private housing either owner occupied or private rented.

The BEIS objectives are:

·         Tackle fuel poverty

·         Ensure homes are thermally comfortable, efficient, and well adapted to climate change

·         Progress towards the UK’s target for net zero by 2050

·         Support clean growth and support economic resilience

Residents can go into the scheme and once they are deemed eligible works will be assessed and carried out by Warm Works and their sub-contractors. The recommended measure will be determined by the assessment of the home, the need to be compatible with Standards Assessment Procedure (SAP) and fit within the scheme parameters such as cost caps.

Measures will focus on energy efficiency measures such as wall, loft and underfloor insulation. Low carbon heating technologies with fossil fuels excluded and solar photovoltaics but battery storage is not included.

The funding available for LAD3 which is the on-gas properties, these are heated by a gas boiler which is connected to the mains gas grid. The average grant is £10,000 for owner occupiers and there is a £5,000 grant for private rented properties and the landlords are required to contribute 1/3 of the funding required.

HUG average grant ranges depend on the property: there is potential to get more money for properties that are the most polluting and the most expensive to heat. The grants available are below:

The GSE Net Zero Hub has secured BEIS funding on behalf of 66 Local Authorities. In Welwyn Hatfield the hub will be able to support approximately LAD Phase 3, 50 on-gas residents and HUG Phase 1, 10 off-gas residents.

It was noted that the scheme finishes in March 2023 but within that timeframe there are eligibility checks. Ideally referrals would be received by end of 2022 to allow for eligibility checks, surveys and works to be completed. It is likely this scheme will be over-subscribed as referrals have already been received across Hertfordshire with no promotion to date. It was noted that members could liaise with the Hub if there is a large number of residents needing support.

It was noted that the eligible residents would be low-income households and on less than a £30,000 gross income or alternative £20,000 after housing costs or household composition similar to LAD2. There is a focus on properties in band E, F and G with band D properties capped at 30%.   There is also a private housing focus and there is a 10% maximum expectation for social housing properties.

To fit within cost caps and timescales available the preferred focus is on households that are financially eligible, EPC E, F and G properties, Owner-occupied properties, Terraced houses, Off-gas properties, have no planning issues and no park homes.

It was noted that it was preferred to target those residents who would be able to benefit from the scheme.

The following points were noted:

·         Members thought the scheme was fantastic.

·         Members asked if the scheme was a pilot that will go to a larger number of households at a later date. Clare Watters stated that part of the scheme had been running for a while so for example the LAD3 element is the third stage and has been running for a while. Clare Watters stated that she was not sure how long the scheme will run as it will be down to the new prime minister and what they decide. Clare Watters hoped that in the current situation that there will be more funding and the hub will certainly apply for funding and invited all the local authorities that have been working with the hub for LAD2 and Sustainable Warmth to apply with them. Clare Watters stated that she was confident that there will be more funding for the HUG properties which were the off-gas properties.

·         Members wanted to know if there would be any schemes for council properties, social housing and housing association. Clare Watters stated that there is another funding called the social housing de-carbonisation fund and all local authorities can apply for the funding.

·         Members asked if there was a cap on savings when the Hub look at income for eligibility. Clare Watters stated that the Hub probably accounts a cap on savings. It was noted that the Hub had a long eligibility document which they use.

RESOLVED:

That the update be noted.