Hundreds of council homes in Swindon are set to benefit from £30 million worth of energy efficiency improvements over the next five years as part of a major upgrade programme by Swindon Borough Council.
The wide-ranging improvements will include new UPVC windows and doors, roof replacements, and upgraded gas central heating systems. Properties with three or more bedrooms may also be fitted with solar panels when their roofs are replaced. The work is expected to begin later this spring.
The majority of the £30 million investment will come from the Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is funded through rental income from tenants and can only be used for the upkeep and improvement of council-owned properties. The remaining funding has been secured through the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. Crucially, the investment will not affect services funded by council tax.
This initiative is part of the Council’s broader £250 million plan to maintain and improve its housing stock over the next five years. The strategy, approved by Cabinet members in February, includes plans to borrow up to £152 million between 2025 and 2030 to support these upgrades.
Councillor Janine Howarth, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “We know how important it is that our tenants live in safe and warm homes. This significant investment reflects our commitment to improving the quality of our housing stock and ensuring that tenants benefit from more energy-efficient homes.”
Councillor Emma Bushell, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Organisational Oversight, added: “Up to 75 per cent of a building’s energy is lost through the walls, roof, floors, windows and doors. That’s why this £30 million investment will focus on improving the energy efficiency of our homes. By installing solar panels on some properties, tenants will also benefit from renewable energy and lower bills. This is a key step in our long-term mission to build a greener Swindon.”
The work will run alongside an existing programme to upgrade 114 homes in Park South to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of ‘C’. These homes will receive external wall insulation and draught-proofing to help reduce heat loss and lower heating costs.
This investment marks a significant step in the Council’s ambition to make Swindon’s housing stock more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable.
