Birmingham City Council has appointed EQUANS to deliver a retrofit project which will serve as a pilot for decarbonising 60,000 properties in the region
As part of the retrofit project, 300 properties in East Birmingham will be transformed to improve thermal efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and provide energy savings for tenants. It will also be used to address fuel poverty in an affordable and achievable way.
Paul Bingham, regional director for EQUANS UK & Ireland, said: “As Europe’s largest local authority, the council has more housing stock, customers, and infrastructure to contend with – not to mention the pressure and responsibility as a leading local authority to perform and innovate.”
3 Cities Whole House Retrofit Pilot
Birmingham City Council has committed to making the city carbon neutral by 2030 and the project forms part of the 3 Cities Retrofit programme*.
Bingham continued: “This pilot programme is a testament to the council’s dedication to just do that. We have a long-standing partnership with Birmingham and our broad expertise in energy, regeneration and retrofit means we are primed to make those goals a reality.”
Leader of BCC Ian Ward, said: “These 300 properties are just the start of our ambitious plans to ensure that all our housing stock is carbon neutral by 2030.
“The council has a large estate and the delivery of the 3 Cities Whole House Retrofit Pilot, presents us with a great opportunity to progress towards our net zero carbon ambitions.
“This exciting pilot will also make a significant contribution to economic recovery and growth through creating employment and skills opportunities for local businesses and the local community.
“The economic and health benefits this can bring to the city in the future are considerable, but we need to support a just transition which brings everyone with us.”
Birmingham’s housing stock accounts for 26% of the city’s carbon emissions
Councillor Sharon Thompson, cabinet member for Housing & Homelessness, added: “BCC’s housing stock is a large net contributor to the city’s carbon emissions, accounting for 26% of the city’s total.
“Tackling these heat emissions and achieving a ‘net zero’ position is key to us achieving our route to zero commitment.
“We need to improve the thermal efficiency of our housing stock to reduce carbon emissions, reduce energy bills, address fuel poverty and support a just transition to a zero carbon city.
“This pilot will show us the way to do this and underpin our strategy for long term investment in our housing stock.”
*The 3 Cities Retrofit programme is one of the largest retrofit initiatives in the UK which could cover nearly 165,000 social homes across Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton.
