Norfolk residents praise energy efficiency upgrades to their homes

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is using the government’s Home Upgrade Grant and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund in tandem to benefit its residents

The district of Great Yarmouth is home to a diverse population of around 100,000 residents and has one of the highest rates of deprivation anywhere in the country.

We were on site in the seaside town to speak with the local council, contractors and residents about how energy efficiency upgrades are transforming the homes and lives of local people.

During our visit, we met with two families who have benefitted from the Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2, an energy efficiency scheme that we deliver on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Residents Ann and Tony Fallowes have lived in their home in Hemsby for 47 years, having raised their children – and multiple pets – at the property over that time. 

Previously heated with oil, the retired couple now warm their home with a low-emission air source heat pump. It is an upgrade they say has created a more comfortable warmth which is more evenly distributed across the house.

Ann said: “Simply the fact that we’d seen other people and heard about it and thought about it – we thought it was too good to be true.

“But my husband said to ‘give it a go’, so we did.”

Alongside their air source heat pump, Ann and Tony’s home received solar panels and top-up loft insulation. On a sunny day, the couple’s smart meter showed £0 for electricity costs, thanks to the renewable energy generated by the panels. 

For local resident Sandie Prime, also of Hemsby, upgrades have been transformational. Until he passed away, Sandie and her husband Brian lived together in the same Fallowfield home for nearly two decades.

Through the scheme, they received solar and transitioned from their two electric heaters to a more evenly distributed electrical system run with an air source heat pump.

Now in her mid-70s, Sandie previously worked for a charity working for children and adults with special needs. 

Inspired by the actions of their neighbours in the close-knit community, the couple initiated works through the Home Upgrade Grant at the end of 2023. 

Sadly, Brian passed away before he could see the works come to fruition. 

Watch our short video below to hear Sandie speak about her experience with the scheme. 

Through the Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2, Great Yarmouth Council is working to upgrade a total of 355 homes across its district.  It is an increase of 55 homes from the initial delivery target.

Watch our short video below to hear more about the council’s ambitions and delivery through the Home Upgrade Grant scheme from council head of housing assets Nicola Turner.

The council is also delivering energy efficiency works through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.2.

The council credits its success of its strong relationship with energy efficiency and retrofit experts at council delivery partner E.ON, which supports the council to deliver the programme alongside local contractors.

Watch our short video below to hear more about the partnership between the council and E.ON and how this has ensured project success.

Kevin Smallwood, our assistant director for housing who attended the visit, said: “It was great to speak with the team at Great Yarmouth Borough Council and E.ON to hear about the work they are delivering for the people in Norfolk.

“There is an overwhelming sense of gratitude from residents that really demonstrates the positive impact the scheme has for homeowners and residents.

“For the people receiving the upgrades, the works help to bring energy bills down and keep their homes warm and that is something to be incredibly proud of.”

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has also won two awards for its efforts in the retrofit space, including projects delivered through government schemes such as the Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2, as well as historic delivery through the Local Authority Delivery Phase 3 (LAD3), Home Upgrade Grant Phase 1 and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 1.2.

For more information on its recent win at the Retrofit Academy Awards 2025, including a short video where head of housing assets Nicola Turner shares what the awards mean to the team delivering the projects, read the news story on our website.