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Midlands housing association set to deliver 273 energy efficiency upgrades

GreenSquareAccord (GSA), one of England’s largest providers of social housing, will have delivered energy efficiency upgrades to 273 of our customers’ homes by the end of this year. The funding to undertake these works was unlocked through a successful joint bid to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), since replaced by the Warm Homes Fund, alongside six other housing associations which form the Matrix Housing Partnership.

By contributor Andrew Tromans
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Through the Matrix Decarbonisation scheme, GSA has received post-retrofit energy performance certificates (EPC) for 134 of their customer’s homes and have uplifted 115 homes to an EPC band C and a further 19 to band B.

The energy efficiency upgrades have been achieved through retrofit and decarbonisation works including installing cavity and external wall insulation, draught-proofing or replacing windows and doors, improving loft insulation, fitting low energy lights and measures to improve ventilation.

A GSA customer in Walsall proudly shows off their air source heat pump installed as part of the Matrix Decarbonisation Project.
A GSA customer in Walsall proudly shows off their air source heat pump installed as part of the Matrix Decarbonisation Project. Photo: GreenSquareAccord (GSA)

In addition, GSA have installed:

  • 163 air source heat pump heating systems at their customer’s homes on Lister Road, Walsall

  • 39 rooftop solar panels at their Westcroft scheme in Chippenham

Andy Minton, Decarbonisation Delivery Project Manager at GSA said: “By the end of this year, we will have delivered works to enhance the EPC rating of 273 homes in 28 streets across the West Midlands and beyond. This will bring a range of benefits to our customers living in the Black Country, Shropshire, Birmingham and Wiltshire such as reduced fuel bills and warmer homes.”

“As this current wave of retrofits draws to a close, I would like to recognise the efforts of all colleagues and partner organisations involved.”

In March 2023, the Matrix Housing Partnership secured £12million in funding from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to help make 909 homes across the Midlands and South West more energy efficient.

The Matrix Housing Partnership is a consortium of seven social landlords including GSA, Black Country Housing Group, Citizen Housing Group, Pioneer Housing and Community Group, Rooftop Housing Association, Trent & Dove Housing and Trident Housing Association.