Westmorland & Furness Council Invests in Energy Efficient Homes

Renewable heat specialists RPS Group hired to improve over 100 rural homes

Wednesday, 12th June 2024

Photo: RPS Group

Westmorland and Furness Council has appointed renewables and heating specialist, Rothwell Plumbing Services Group (RPS Group), to deliver part of a multi-million-pound scheme of energy efficiency improvements to more than 100 homes in the area.

RPS Group, which has established a regional office in the Lake District, will be retrofitting homes using funding secured by Westmorland and Furness Council from the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG 2) scheme. Work on the first properties will begin later this month.

The Home Upgrade Grant scheme is designed to deliver energy saving improvements to some of the UK’s most fuel impoverished privately owned and rented homes, many of which are in rural areas and are off the mains gas grid.

The type of improvements made to homes will depend on the specific needs of individual properties and an eligibility assessment of homes and residents but could include upgrades to heating systems and buildings.

Amanda Yellowley, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Interim Senior Manager for Housing Standards and Services said: “Many homes across Cumbria need an energy efficiency retrofit to lower energy bills and fuel poverty, while also reducing their carbon footprint.
“Westmorland and Furness Council is pleased to lead on the HUG 2 scheme for Cumbria, working closely with Cumberland Council, and the scheme is now moving into the delivery phase.
“We look forward to working in partnership with RPS Group, Corelogic Ltd and our residents to deliver energy efficiency measures to homes across the Westmorland and Furness area.”
Graham Rothwell, RPS Group Chief Executive, added: “Improving the energy efficiency of rural homes in places like Cumbria bring its own set of challenges, but it is a specialism RPS Group excels at.
“It is also one of the reasons why RPS Group acquired a business serving rural homes across Cumbria, and we are delighted to be working with Westmorland and Furness Council to deliver renewable and low-carbon solutions to households off the mains gas grid.”

Fuel poverty, where households regularly struggle to cover the cost of heat and energy, remains a significant problem across the UK, but can be particularly challenging in rural areas where mains gas is often unavailable.

RPS Group can deliver a range of upgrades, including works to the building fabric such as improvements to wall, loft and floor insulation, as well as installing new low carbon heating systems, including air source heat pumps, as well as renewable electricity generation via solar panels and battery storage systems.

As well as being off the mains gas grid, eligible households must have an income of no more than £36,000 a year and their property must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of between D and G.

Homeowners and renters can check their eligibility and express an interest in accessing full funding via the council’s website www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk  

Established 35 years ago in Wigan, Greater Manchester, RPS Group is an award-winning installer that specialises in renewables and heating installations, working with local authorities, housing associations and private developers across the North of England.

To find out more about RPS Group visit www.RothwellGroup.co.uk

If you’d like to talk to Frontier PR about this campaign, or share in RPS Group’s success story email david@frontierpr.co.uk or call 07939 137 098 - or download Frontier PR’s latest brochure for social housing below.

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