Crawley Borough Council has announced that its housing stock will be improved through energy efficiency measures.
Through the Towns Fund, delivered by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, a ‘fabric first’ approach will be taken to the improvement of Crawley’s housing stock and its energy efficiency. Cavity walls without insulation, or insulation that is in poor condition will be the focal point of the work, however flats with timber frames or solid wall blocks of flats, will be given alternative designs. This is due to their unsuitability to the proposed method of insulation.
Cavity wall insulation has been installed in 58 blocks of flats up to the end of July this year, delivering more thermal efficiency to a total of 352 flats. This will support the flats to reduce energy use and lower bills, whilst the further benefit of warmer homes will help to reduce the amount of condensation in homes, cutting the chances of damp and mould affecting residents’ health.
Success from this project has been proven through thermal images of properties before and after their improvements have taken place showing a reduction in the amount of heat that is escaping from the exterior walls of the building. It is anticipated that this will save a total of 902 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, Cllr Atif Nawaz, said:
“This latest Towns Fund Project is making a real difference to tenants’ lives and is another step towards us achieving net zero.”
Alongside the plans to improve the energy efficiency of properties for residents’ benefit, the insulation of home will also contribute to the council’s net zero goal of 2040. The council has estimated that a total of 1,511 flats will see the benefit of better insulation and lower bills by end of the programme in March 2026.
Councillor Bob Noyce, Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change, added:
“The Towns Fund money is allowing us to upgrade our housing stock and improve the health and wellbeing of tenants. The fabric first approach creates the basis for any future work on retrofitting newer, sustainable energy sources.”
Image credit: iStock
