Swindon council tenants are set to enjoy warmer homes, lower bills, and a greener footprint thanks to a £30m energy efficiency programme being rolled out across hundreds of council properties.
The improvements form part of the Council’s new Decarbonisation Framework, which aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions while helping residents and local organisations do the same. Measures include upgraded boilers, new windows and doors, insulated roofs, and, in some cases, solar panels.
Making council homes more energy efficient tackles climate change by reducing energy demand and helps tenants save money on heating. Studies suggest around 25 per cent of heat is lost through uninsulated roofs and roughly 10 per cent escapes through doors and windows.
Between April and September this year, Swindon Council installed new roofs in 50 homes, upgraded boilers in 365, and fitted double- or triple-glazed windows and doors in 313. Fifteen of the homes with new roofs also received solar panels, giving tenants access to free renewable energy. All these upgrades bring properties up to an Energy Performance Certificate rating of C.
Janet Offord, whose council home has already benefitted from the upgrades, said:
“Since it’s all been done, the benefits have been brilliant. The home is warmer and the solar panels are fantastic—our electric bills are much cheaper.
“A lot of people assume I’ve bought my house, and when I tell them it’s the Council who did it, they can’t believe how well it’s been done. Everyone I speak to says they can’t wait for their homes to be improved too.”
Councillor Emma Bushell, Deputy Leader and Ambassador for Greener Swindon, added:
“Making these energy efficiency improvements is a double win. It saves tenants money, keeps them warmer, and helps the environment. Through our Build a Greener Swindon mission and Decarbonisation Framework, we’re delivering real, tangible benefits to our communities.”
Councillor Janine Howarth, Cabinet Member for Housing, explained that nearly half of Swindon’s 10,300 council homes were built using post-war, non-traditional construction methods, and many are showing their age.
“This programme is making a significant contribution to improving the energy performance of hundreds of homes, helping tenants stay comfortable while reducing energy costs,” she said.
The five-year scheme is primarily funded through the Council’s ring-fenced Housing Revenue Account, ensuring rental income from tenants is reinvested in council-owned properties. Hundreds more homes will benefit over the next few years.
