Rotherham Council’s £1.5m ‘retrofit’ to keep homes in Maltby warmer

Rotherham Council received cash from the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund towards the scheme at Maltby.

Changes have included external wall insulation, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, triple-glazed windows and energy efficient doors, with some properties having new roofs.

The “retrofit” – carried out in partnership with Equans – could save people £400 a year in energy costs, RMBC says.

Equans sustainability director Steve Batty said: “Residents have told us that their homes feel much warmer in cold weather, and also cooler when it’s been hot.

“We’re so pleased they are already seeing the positive impact of the work that’s been done.”

Tenants welcomed guests from the Northern Housing Consortium along with council leader Cllr Chris Read and chief executive Sharon Kemp to see the improvements.

Tracy Harrison, chief executive of the consortium, said: “The transformation we’ve seen to people’s homes in Maltby will make them warmer, more comfortable to live in and really help to address rising energy bills, which is urgently needed.”

Cllr Read added: “The project has been a great success. It also ties in with the council’s climate change priorities where just last week we pledged to improve the quality of life for everyone in Rotherham, by delivering innovative projects.

“This is a fantastic first step for the council, partners and tenants to become carbon neutral.”

It has been predicted that the scheme will save more than 96,000kg of CO2 a year.