More than 1,000 houses set for warmer home upgrades

An ambitious retrofit scheme led by Portsmouth City Council is set to upgrade homes across the country

More than a thousand households across the country will soon have warmer, cheaper-to-heat homes thanks to an inspiring project led by Portsmouth City Council, which offers low-carbon, energy-efficient upgrades.

Portsmouth City Council leads a consortium of 23 local councils stretching from Hampshire to West Sussex and other areas.

Supported by its delivery partner, Agility Eco Services Ltd, Portsmouth has been able to deliver these energy efficiency upgrades thanks to Phase 2 of the Home Upgrade Grant, a scheme financed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Our Salix teams visited Portsmouth to speak with staff about a programme of work through which the consortium is aiming to retrofit more than 1,000 homes, improving living conditions and lowering energy bills for residents.

Councillor Kimberly Barrett, cabinet member for climate action and greening the city said: “This scheme has enabled us to support homeowners and private renters from all walks of life. 

“Working with a consortium of 23 local authorities has been a positive and collaborative approach and has created a broader support network for the people of Portsmouth and further afield. 

“It’s great to be able to work together to reduce carbon emissions in residential areas as well as supporting communities in a cost-of-living crisis.”

The scheme has provided retrofit upgrades and low-carbon heating to households that are low income, off the gas grid and have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) between D and G. 

A variety of retrofit measures have been installed in homes, including air source heat pumps, storage heaters, solar panels, and insulation.

To support these upgrades, the consortium will be receiving nearly £25 million in funding through the Home Upgrade Grant. Our Salix teams act as delivery agent for the scheme, working closely with our delivery partner consortium, led by PwC.

Having consistently performed amongst top grant recipients delivering through the scheme, the council attributes this ranking to its collaborative relationship with retrofit delivery specialists at Agility Eco. Top scheme performers are measured by homes completed against targets set in line with funding criteria.

Working closely with the team at Portsmouth, Agility Eco’s approach across consortium members has been praised by the council for supporting clarity and consistency of messaging and establishing trust amongst residents.

The council also runs a service called Switched On Portsmouth, which offers free advice and support to residents to help them save energy, money and carbon. 

Advice ranges from providing free small measures such as energy saving light bulbs and draught excluders to referring residents into schemes such as the Home Upgrade Grant that provide fully funded major energy efficiency upgrades.

Watch our short video to hear more about this work and why it’s important for the people of Portsmouth from Councillor Kimberly Barrett.

Looking ahead, the council is planning to both scale up its approach to energy efficient retrofit, as well as bringing additional local authorities within its consortium model.

This includes planned delivery through the upcoming Warm Homes: Local Grant government scheme and continued council investment in retrofit and further initiatives that provide best benefit to residents.

Andy Ilton, our portfolio assurance manager supporting the Home Upgrade Grant scheme, said: “I have been working closely with Portsmouth City Council throughout the duration of the programme, through which it has consistently achieved its targets.

“It was fantastic to meet with the team in person and to see and hear more about the positive outcomes that the Home Upgrade Grant scheme is providing for local residents through warmer, cheaper-to-heat homes.

“The team’s enthusiasm and commitment to do the best by their residents shone through in every conversation which, I think, accurately manifests and reflects through their delivery through the scheme.”

About the Home Upgrade Grant:

• the Home Upgrade Grant aims to provide energy efficiency upgrades and low carbon heating via local authority funding, to households in England that are low income, off the gas grid or have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) between D and G
• funding is exclusively reserved for off-gas grid homes.
• you can read more about the scheme via our website.