Esh Construction has been appointed to deliver a £2 million contract to retrofit homes across County Durham after Durham County Council secured funding from the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero.
Energy efficiency upgrades will be carried out and low carbon heating installed in up to 140 eligible homes through the next three years, with properties including owner-occupied and private rented homes off the gas grid.
The project, procured via the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO), will involve the installation of measures such as improved ventilation, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, air source heat pumps, smart heating controls and photovoltaic panels, with each property receiving bespoke upgrades through the Warmer Homes:Local Government Grant scheme.
Lisa Stafford, Head of Retrofit Solutions at Esh Construction, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Durham County Council through the Warmer Homes:Local Government Grant scheme. Building on the success of our previous retrofit projects, Esh remains committed to helping residents benefit from warmer and more comfortable homes. By taking a fabric first approach and introducing the latest low carbon technologies, we are supporting the council’s drive to decarbonise housing and improve living standards for communities in the region.”
Esh has commissioned Storm Tempest to conduct retrofit assessments, design and coordination to establish which measures will improve the eligible homes to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C rating.
Esh is a TrustMark-accredited contractor and partners with a PAS 2030, PAS 2035 and MCS compliant supply chain.
Cllr Nicola Lyons, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for communities and civic resilience, said: “We want all County Durham residents to live in warm, safe and comfortable homes and are committed to doing as much as we can to ensure people have access to good quality housing. Whether that be delivering new council homes or schemes such as this, which support people to upgrade their homes.
“Securing this funding from The Warmer Homes initiative will allow up to 140 eligible households to benefit from improvements that will not only make their homes more comfortable but will save them money on their energy bills.”
The Warmer Homes initiative was designed to help improve the comfort and energy efficiency of lower income homes and follows on from the previous Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) projects funded by the Department for Energy and Net Zero.
When allocating the funding, the Government has asked local authorities to prioritise the households in more deprived areas. Other priority criteria includes properties with the lowest energy performance certificates of E, F and G, households with a total income of less than £36,000 and households in receipt of a means tested benefit.
The decision to award funding is based on the number of applications received from eligible households and when they are received, as well as the amount of funding available. Demand is expected to be high and where households are unsuccessful through the Warm Homes: Local Grant, Durham County Council will look to provide support through other funding sources.
In 2024, Esh installed energy efficiency upgrades and low carbon heating options to 21 County Durham Homes through the HUG Phase 2 project.
We are delighted to continue our partnership with Durham County Council through the Warmer Homes:Local Government Grant scheme. Building on the success of our previous retrofit projects, Esh remains committed to helping residents benefit from warmer and more comfortable homes. By taking a fabric first approach and introducing the latest low carbon technologies, we are supporting the council’s drive to decarbonise housing and improve living standards for communities in the region.”