Rushenden Retrofit
Friday 23 December 2011
Rushenden Retrofit - Full Speed Ahead
Swale Borough Council is delighted to announce that funding has been agreed with Climate Energy under the government’s Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP), to help fund the retrofit works in Rushenden on the Isle of Sheppey.
The Rushenden Retrofit Programme, which aims to achieve a minimum of 40% carbon savings to private and social homes in Rushenden, is a partnership between Swale Borough Council, AmicusHorizon Housing Association, Climate Energy, The Homes and Communities Agency and the Institute for Sustainability. The project is a national demonstrator, which will include a full evaluation which can then be used to develop a new code for retrofit, informing a roll out across wider area.
The retrofit is the first project of its kind in England, as it covers a range of type and tenure of housing, so Swale is delighted to be able to see if it can deliver the anticipated cost savings for residents, particularly at a time when fuel poverty is being highlighted as a real issue.
The project currently focuses on regeneration work in Rushenden and applies a green approach to housing regeneration, aiming to achieve carbon savings and lower fuel bills for households in one of the most deprived areas of Swale.
The Council is directly responsible for Phase One of the programme which will deliver initial retrofit measures to more than 60 private homes. Now with the funding from Climate Energy secured phase one of the programme is fully underway, with the Councils contractor, Lawtech installing the external wall insulation and replacement glazing, and Swale Heating installing new boilers installing other energy saving measures.
Swale Borough Council’s portfolio holder for Economy and Regeneration, Councillor John Wright, said "Swale Borough Council members and officers have worked extremely hard on this project and we are delighted to be in a position to demonstrate the progress that is being made.
"It is a real fillip for Swale to have the opportunity to make this project work here first. It is a clear indication of our commitment to working in partnership with colleagues from the public and private sector, to create a cleaner and greener Swale, and to apply these key principles to all of the Council’s services."
