South Staffordshire Council approves £40k spend on energy efficiency measures for temporary housing

The authority plans to use the properties to provide temporary accommodation in the district – and money from its share of the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will be used to install solar panels and batteries.

Cabinet members agreed the funding allocation at their meeting on Tuesday (July 8). Other projects being considered for UKSPF money include village centre and council-owned green space improvements, upgrades to leisure centre facilities and business incubation units at Jubilee House in Codsall.

A report to Tuesday’s cabinet meeting said: “UKSPF was a central pillar of the former UK Government’s levelling up agenda and a significant component of its support for places across the UK. South Staffordshire Council was allocated £3.82m across three funding years from 2022/23 – 2024/25 and that programme ceased at the end of March 2025.

“In October 2024, the Chancellor confirmed in her budget that further UKSPF would be available to local authorities in 2025/26 but that the programme would definitely cease at this point. In December 2024 we received confirmation that we would see a reduced amount of £1,250,932 for 2025/26.

“The council are in the process of acquiring four properties to be used as temporary accommodation in the district. Upon acquisition, we are undertaking refurbishment work to bring them up to a higher standard but there is insufficient funding available to retrofit a higher standard of energy efficiency measures beyond the fabric first approach, e.g. insulation, windows etc.

“The UKSPF funding will allow PV solar panels and batteries to be installed on those properties, which in turn will save residents money on their energy costs as well as any climate change benefits. Members are now requested to formally approve an allocation of £40,300 to undertake the additional energy efficiency measures on those four properties, preferably before any residents occupy the homes.”