Making our homes warmer, healthier, and more efficient

Work to improve the energy efficiency of 645 of our homes will begin this month in a £6.1 million new wave of investment.

The work is starting on 14 July with properties in Abbey Hills, Roundthorn, Shaw and estates in Chadderton all earmarked for the improvements.

Retrofitting and upgrading insulation, installing triple glazed windows, insulated doors and solar panels are to take place where appropriate. Customers will also be given smart heating controls to monitor and manage energy use more effectively.

The investment is all part of our mission to ensure all of our homes have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C rating by 2030.

“Our teams will soon be moving into properties in these areas to start work on helping to save our customers money and also achieve our net zero targets,” said FCHO’s executive director of homes Steve Agger.

“The strategy is to carry out works over the five-year period leading up to 2030 to ensure all FCHO’s 11,500 strong housing stock achieves an EPC C or better. In addition, other works - such as new windows - will be fitted to those homes already C rated where it is required.

“Customers who receive this investment are going to see and feel a big difference, not only to their bills, but also their comfort and peace of mind, and we always try our best to minimise disruption.”

He explained: “We recently completed Wave II in 470 properties at Failsworth, Chadderton and Royton in a two-year £5.4 million spend and customers are very happy with the results that on average saw £9,350 spent on each property.”

He added FCHO was using money from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and its own cash to fund the Wave III work.

To reach the 2030 EPC C rating target, we will in total spend £31.4 million on improving our housing stock.

We’re holding a series of local events for customers on the energy efficiency work happening in your area. Come along to learn more, ask questions, and meet the team. These will take place in Abbey Hills and Roundthorn in early July, then Shaw in mid July, and Chadderton in mid September. The first event is set to take place on July 9 at Alt Community Centre, Cherry Avenue OL8 2HS from 3pm to 7pm.