Our aim to improve the energy efficiency of our homes in St Ives has moved a step forward after being included in the Town Deal projects submitted to government.
Last year the St Ives Deal Board successfully bid for a Town Deal worth £19.9million from government’s Town Fund Scheme. The bid was based on a Town Investment Plan (TIP) which identified a mix of large-scale transformation projects together with a number of smaller scale community projects.
Nine projects have been selected for final approval from government, including our plan for the retrofit of homes and to run community projects in St Ives.
The funding will allow us to carry out an energy-efficient retrofitting programme to 200 of the worst performing social housing properties in the town.
The work will improve the thermal efficiency of the buildings, and reduce drafts, heat loss, and the reliance on carbon based heating systems, creating greener homes which are cheaper and warmer for people to live in.
The project will also work with residents in the town to integrate sustainable transport, waste and recycling improvements into estates in the town and help to develop local green skills and employment opportunities.
Tim Wotton, our Green Funding Manager, said: “We are really excited that St Ives Towns Fund money will kickstart a green retrofit revolution in the town and act as a lightning rod to help bring in other matched government funding as well as LiveWest’s own investment.
“We place sustainability at the heart of our organisation, and we are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our activities to create a clean and sustainable future for our customers, employees and our families.
“This funding will give us a further platform to create sustainable homes in St Ives."
The project will build on our drive to reduce the carbon footprint of our customers’ homes.
We have taken steps to improve the energy efficiency of our homes to meet a minimum EPC rating of ‘C’ by 2028 – two years ahead of the Government’s target and is using this and other funding alongside.
Our overall investment of around £40m to bring 9,000 of our rental homes up to EPC Band C.
Owning more than 39,000 homes and supporting 80,000 customers, our fabric first approach has already resulted in installation projects taking place and an upgrade to insulation, doors and windows amongst homes across the South West. We are also introducing solar panels and installing new heating systems as part of our drive to future proof our homes.
Our retrofit programme for the St Ives Town Deal will support government measures to tackle fuel poverty and meet the Committee on Climate Change’s target to have 29 million existing homes in the UK to become low carbon by 2050.
During the past 12 months, the organisations behind the shortlisted projects in the TIP have been working on demonstrating the feasibility of their project through the development of business cases.
In order to unlock any Towns Fund investment, each project set out cost details, scope and delivery mechanism, as well as outlining key milestones and construction dates.
Karen Fielding, Community Sector Representative on the Town Deal Board, said: “This is such an important step forward that brings St Ives a step closer from unlocking the government’s Towns Fund investment.
“We would like to thank all of the project leads for providing such thorough business cases in a very limited and financially complex environment."
Cllr Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council's Portfolio Holder for Economy, said: “We fought hard to secure one of the biggest settlements in the country when the Town Deals were announced last year, and I am delighted to see that work now beginning to come to fruition."
Derek Thomas, MP for Ives, West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and a member of the St Ives Town Deal Board, said: “St Ives Town Deal is now at a critical stage – we have a clear set of projects to support the transformation of St Ives, based on green growth and a year-round economy.
“It’s been an honour to work with the Town Board to develop the programme, and I’d like to thank everyone who has devoted their time and energy to renewing the town we love."
The other projects included in the Town Deal are: Low Carbon Transport, Rugby Club/Affordable Housing, Old Vicarage Flats, Delegated Fund for Renewal, Guildhall, St Ives Theatre, Leach Pottery and Digital Trail, St Ives Community Orchard.