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Riverside, in partnership with Wates Group, has initiated a \u00a372 million programme to upgrade over 3,000 homes across the UK, aiming to improve energy performance, reduce fuel poverty, and meet sustainability targets amid rising energy prices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Liverpool-based housing group Riverside has embarked on a significant \u00a372 million retrofit programme aimed at making over 3,000 homes warmer and more energy efficient. The project, led in partnership with WPS\u2014a division of The Wates Group\u2014will upgrade homes across Liverpool, Halton, Carlisle, the Langley estate in Middleton, and Enfield in London. Backed by a \u00a336 million grant from the Government\u2019s Warm Homes Social Housing Fund (Wave 3), Riverside is match funding the programme, which is expected to span three years from early October. The initiative targets raising homes to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C through comprehensive measures such as cavity and external wall insulation, solar panel installations, roof modifications, double glazing, and new doors.<\/p>\n
These efforts are designed not only to improve living conditions but also to tackle fuel poverty, reduce carbon emissions, and create local job opportunities, thereby supporting Riverside\u2019s broader commitment to sustainability and its designation as a Strategic Partner of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The programme builds on Riverside\u2019s prior retrofit success under Wave 2.1, where a \u00a326 million investment improved energy efficiency in over 1,000 homes across similar regions. WPS has proven to be a trusted partner, having acted as Riverside\u2019s contractor for previous phases and bringing established expertise in delivering high-quality retrofit projects.<\/p>\n
Ian Gregg, Riverside\u2019s Chief Property Officer, highlighted the transformative potential of the upgrades, noting how they will deliver warmer, more affordable homes, directly addressing issues of fuel poverty and household energy costs. Gregg also pointed to the positive outcomes documented during earlier retrofit phases and expressed pride in scaling these efforts to benefit even more residents. David Morgan, Executive Managing Director at WPS, stressed that the programme goes beyond mere improvements to housing stock; it aims to enhance economic and health outcomes for tenants, while contributing to the UK\u2019s energy transition and net-zero ambitions.<\/p>\n
WPS\u2019s involvement in Riverside\u2019s programme fits within the wider framework of its retrofit services, which comply with PAS 2035 standards and assist social landlords in navigating the complexities of securing funding from government initiatives such as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), the Green Homes Grant, and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). The company has extensive experience in this sector, managing contracts valued at nearly \u00a3200 million, including recent multi-million-pound retrofit programmes for other housing associations such as Aster Group and Orbit. These projects are similarly focused on achieving EPC Band C ratings across thousands of homes by 2030 through a combination of insulation, renewable energy technologies, and building fabric improvements.<\/p>\n
The scale and ambition of Riverside\u2019s latest programme underline the crucial role of energy efficiency retrofits in the national effort to both improve social housing and address climate change. By delivering energy upgrades that facilitate lower energy consumption and bills, these projects offer tangible benefits to residents while advancing environmental targets. As energy prices remain volatile and concerns about fuel poverty persist, such large-scale retrofit initiatives are increasingly recognised as essential components of sustainable housing policy in the UK.<\/p>\n