More than £30 million will be spent to slash energy bills and carbon emissions for families across Gloucestershire over the next three years.
A group of affordable housing providers known as the Gloucestershire Homes and Communities Partnership (GHCP) plans to invest the money into making the more than 35,000 homes it manages across the county better for the environment and cheaper to run.
Hayley Selway, Chief Executive Officer of Two Rivers Housing and Co-Chair of the Gloucestershire Homes and Communities Partnership, said: “It’s fantastic to see this level of investment from across the partnership. It proves that we’re not only serious about protecting our environment, but we’re committed to saving Gloucestershire families money and making their homes more comfortable and energy efficient.
“Our shared commitment shows how decarbonisation and tackling fuel poverty must go hand in hand.”
In the coming financial year alone, GHCP members are set to invest more than £22 million in energy efficiency improvements. Stroud District Council will invest £6.3 million, Two Rivers Housing £4.5 million, Bromford Flagship £3.4 million, Cheltenham Borough Council Housing Services £3.07 million, Gloucester City Homes £2.66 million, and Rooftop Housing Group £2.5 million. Several partners have already committed further funding for 2027/28 and beyond.
Measures will include rooftop solar panels, better insulation and low-carbon heating systems, and boosting training pathways for green jobs.
Alongside Two Rivers, the GHCP includes Bromford Flagship LiveWest (BFL), Cheltenham Borough Council Housing Services, Gloucester City Homes, GreenSquareAccord, Rooftop Housing Group, and Stroud District Council, who together own 73% of all affordable housing in Gloucestershire. Cheltenham YMCA and Elim Housing have recently joined the partnership.
These organisations have already invested millions into decarbonisation over the past few years, and it is hoped this further investment will help families cope with rising energy costs whilst tackling climate change.
The GHCP is also working with Gloucestershire County Council and local suppliers to train people in green energy skills, creating jobs in everything from heat pump installation to solar panel fitting.
A careers day will be held at Bromford’s office on Shannon Way, Tewkesbury, on Tuesday, 10 March – anyone interested can register at bit.ly/40L618w
Ms Selway said: “Green energy skills are in huge demand right now. We’re creating pathways for people who might not have considered this kind of work before, whether that’s school leavers, people looking to retrain, or those who want to get into the trades.”
Alongside decarbonisation, GHCP members will continue to work together on amplifying customer voice, improving supported housing, and delivering more affordable homes across the county.
