Esh Construction completes retrofit works to more than 80 properties across the Tees Valley

The Bowburn-headquartered contractor was appointed to retrofit the homes after Darlington Borough Council in partnership with Hartlepool, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Councils

Esh Construction has completed a £2.1 million retrofitting project which has seen home improvements actioned in 81 properties across the Tees Valley.

The Bowburn-headquartered contractor was appointed to retrofit the homes after Darlington Borough Council in partnership with Hartlepool, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Councils, secured Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG 2) funding from the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero.

Energy efficiency upgrades and low carbon heating were installed in owner-occupied and private rented properties off the gas grid, with residents across the Tees Valley taking up the opportunity to futureproof their homes.

Lisa Stafford, Head of Retrofit Solutions at Esh Construction, said: “Our main driver in launching the retrofit division was to support local authorities and social housing providers in decarbonising homes while helping residents to live in a more environmentally-friendly manner.

“We have worked closely with each local authority to identify the properties that met the threshold for home improvements through HUG 2, and seeing the changes made to these homes has been a moment of pride for the Esh team. We hope to continue working with the Councils involved on future schemes.”

Throughout the project, properties received bespoke upgrades depending on requirements, which included improved ventilation, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, air source heat pumps, smart heating controls and photovoltaic panels.

The Home Upgrade Grant, a government-funded scheme by the Department for Energy and Net Zero was introduced to deliver progress on statutory fuel poverty targets for England by 2030 and UK Net Zero targets by 2050 and focuses on upgrading inefficient off-gas grid heated homes to provide cleaner and more sustainable heating solutions.

The HUG 2 project prioritises homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G. Low-income residents who own their home can get upgrades fully funded within the relevant cost caps and do not have to contribute.

Prior to the work taking place, all properties underwent a retrofit assessment to establish which measures would improve them to an EPC C rating. Esh, alongside its specialist supply chain, then carried out a pre-design technical survey before the Retrofit Designer completed final designs to enable construction work to get underway through the last year.

Cllr Ursula Earl, Cabinet Member for Health, Welfare and Housing at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: “This was an excellent scheme which is not only good for the environment – which is good for everybody - but has improved 32 homes right here on Redcar and Cleveland and more than 80 across the Tees Valley.

“Those homes are now more energy efficient which means lower bills for the residents and less carbon released into the environment, so it’s a win-win. I’d like to congratulate everyone involved.”

The HUG 2 project in the Tees Valley marked the first scheme Esh’s retrofit division secured through the NEPO Retrofit and Decarbonisation Framework.

To find out more about Esh Construction, visit www.eshgroup.co.uk