Member Article

Next wave of council property improvements announced

The next wave of improvements to Birmingham City Council’s housing stock has commenced, with regeneration specialist Keepmoat delivering the energy efficiency home improvements to up to 347 homes in Maypole.

The first phase saw 241 homes in Bartley Green and Quinton receive external wall insulation. In addition, new boilers, loft insulation and draft proofing were fitted to 206 of the properties.

The improvements - worth up to £10,000 per property - can help reduce energy costs over the lifetime of the measures, as well as help to breathe new life into the streets with refreshed exteriors.

The scheme, which has unlocked around £2.2m of ECO scheme funding will see the construction company carry out similar work on 347 properties in the Maypole area of the city in an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of the council’s housing stock.

Cllr James McKay, Cabinet Member for a Green, Safe and Smart City at Birmingham City Council, said: “These improvements will bring enormous benefits for the tenants living in the properties covered by this phase of work. Given the problem of rising energy bills, it will help people save money, making their homes warmer and more pleasant places to live.”

Jake Fellows, Sustainability Commercial Manager, of Keepmoat said: “Having worked on the first phase of the improvements we are delighted to have been able to work with Birmingham City Council to deliver further interventions.

“These home improvements will make a huge difference to residents by keeping them warmer in the winter and helping them to save on their fuel bills all year round, whilst also creating a fresh aesthetic for the area.

“We have built good relationships with the local community and this latest phase of work is a testimony the quality of work carried out so far.”

Residents have already been contacted by the regeneration specialist and an event advising residents on the programme of works was held on July 17.

Over the next decade it is estimated that average household energy bills will rise by 60 per cent, with homes accounting for nearly one quarter of all the UK’s carbon emissions. Improvements such as those being carried out by Keepmoat in Birmingham can also help cut emissions.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Hazel Rycroft .