Swansea Council has joined forces with Bath University – the lead university in a collaboration with three others (Cardiff, Exeter and Bristol) to test out the retrofitting of innovative energy equipment and external fabric up-grades to existing ‘inter-war’ council homes in the Townhill community of the city.
The project will use innovative new bio-based materials with the aim of maximising carbon reduction in construction methods and reducing fuel poverty, including external wall insulation, loft insulation, new doors and windows, heat pumps, solar panels and battery storage
More than £400,000, provided through grant programmes and the Council’s housing capital investment programme, will be invested in the installation of the renewable energy equipment and external fabric up-grades at the four homes.
The universities involved in the project will then test the effectiveness of the equipment in terms of costs savings for homes and value for money.
The latest project follows on from a previous scheme involving the Welsh School of Architecture in Cardiff University where six council-owned bungalows in Craig Cefn Parc were retrofitted with similar renewable energy equipment to help lower energy bills.
(Image: Swansea Council)
The Townhill redevelopment scheme will form part of the Transforming Housing and Homes for Future Generations Green Transition Ecosystem (GTE) project – referred to as the Transforming Homes Project.
The Council is also planning a £3million development of 13 new homes in the Manselton community.
The Brondeg House scheme is part of the Council’s ongoing More Homes programme which has already seen more than 250 homes added to the Council’s social housing stock across the city.
The latest report to Cabinet approved additional funding (£300,000) through the City Deal Homes as Power Station (HAPS) incentive fund to help with the costs of renewable energy equipment to the Brondeg House development.
Andrea Lewis, Swansea Council’s Joint Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Service Transformation, said: “Fuel poverty is still a real concern across our country and the need to consider renewable energy solutions in our existing council homes in Swansea is a priority.
“We have previously had success in retrofitting this type of equipment to a set of bungalows in the north of the city.
“Once again, we are collaborating with universities who are taking these issues and technologies very seriously, in terms of how they perform and the potential for rolling out to existing homes in a cost effective way.
“We also have plans to include renewable energy equipment into our latest new-build project in Manselton.
“The homes will be designed to our award winning ‘Swansea Standard’ and provide much needed accommodation for people on our housing waiting list.”
(Lead image: Swansea Council)
