Updated: 16 February 2024
In March 2023, we received over £6 million from the Liverpool City Region's successful bid to the Government's Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DoESNZ), Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. With an additional £15.4 million in funding from our organisation, a total of £22million being spent on retrofit works.
This investment will see 695 existing Torus properties, across 11 schemes, benefit from a range of retrofit energy-efficiency improvements as well as external decoration to improve the aesthetics of people’s homes.
These improvement works will help to reduce energy usage and energy bills, improving the overall Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings from D to C, which is incredibly important right now, with many tenants experiencing real hardship because of the cost-of-living crisis.
The works will also benefit the environment by helping to reduce carbon emissions, which supports Torus’ wider environmental sustainability strategy, which will play a key role helping the Liverpool City Region and Warrington achieve net zero by 2040 and 2030, respectively.
Other schemes include 42 flats on Kirk Street (Everton, L5) which is receiving a range of works that will improve both energy efficiency and the aesthetics of the scheme, and the final project, a whole house retrofit of a solid wall terraced house in Haydock.
All schemes are expected to be completed in the Summer of 2025.
The schemes
Tenants who will benefit from these schemes will be contacted directly about the works. The Torus Home Energy Accelerator Team (HEAT) will be their first point of contact throughout the works, providing support and information regularly throughout the works.
|
Scheme |
No. of Homes |
Expected Start Date* |
Proposed works** |
|
Kingsway House (nine-story, 51-apartment building), Warrington |
51 |
Completed |
Kingsway House is undergoing an ambitious £5+ million refurbishment, with retrofit works including new windows, doors, improved insulation, ventilation and external walls finished with non-combustible render, which will improve energy efficiency of the building and the thermal comfort of the apartments. The scheme also includes the installation of a communal air source heat pump which has the added benefit of removing the gas supply from the tower block which potentially improves safety. |
| Brunswick Street, Everton, L6 | 6 | Completed |
Cavity Wall Insulation, External Wall Insulation, New Windows, Ventilation, New Roof , Solar PV system, Smart monitoring devices |
|
Kirk Street, Everton, Liverpool L5 |
42 |
On site |
Solar Photovoltaics (Solar PV), External Wall Insulation, Windows, External doors, Roofing, Ventilation, Internal and External communal decoration, Communal TV system upgrade |
|
Haydock Grosvenor, St Helens |
59 |
On site |
Cavity Wall Insulation, Loft insulation, Windows, External doors, Ventilation, Wall tie replacement (where required), External decoration |
|
Haresfinch, St Helens |
96 |
On site |
Cavity Wall Insulation, Loft insulation, Windows, External doors, Ventilation, Wall tie replacement (where required), External decoration |
|
North Liverpool (Old Swan to Walton) |
132 |
Summer 24 |
To benefit from a range of home energy improvements (tbc). |
|
Ellerbrook House, Ormskirk |
41 |
Early 24 |
Doors, Loft insulation, Cavity Wall Insulation, Ventilation, External decoration |
|
Windlehurst, St Helens |
94 |
On site |
Cavity Wall Insulation, Loft insulation, Windows, External doors, Ventilation, Wall tie replacement (where required), External decoration |
|
Haydock (Admiralty/Central), St Helen |
85 |
2024 |
Cavity wall insulation, Loft insulation, Windows, Doors, Ventilation, External decoration, Insulation to roof over bay windows (non-traditional construction only) |
|
Culcheth (Flat Roof), Warrington |
64 |
2024 |
Cavity Wall Insulation, Windows, Doors, Loft insulation, Ventilation, External decoration, Main roof renewal (flat roof) |
|
Cathedral Walk, Liverpool |
24 |
2024 |
Cavity Wall Insulation, External Wall Insulation Windows, Doors, Roof, Solar PV, Ventilation, External and Internal communal decoration |
|
Newman Street, Liverpool |
1 |
2024 |
Whole house retrofit. |
*Estimated start dates and are subject to change
**Works on individual homes are finalised following a full survey
Supporting tenants to improve energy efficiency in their homes
In addition to the home energy improvements, we will also be helping customers with a wider package of support which will include education about how to maximise the benefits of the home energy efficiency improvements and access to tailored home energy improvement plans based on households' individual circumstances and energy usage.
Energy advice from Torus Foundation
Torus Foundation have qualified energy advisors who are on hand to support with fuel debt, billing errors, meter readings if you have difficulty doing this yourself, applying for grants to help reduce your energy debts, switching energy providers (if it’s the right thing to do), applying for seasonal payments, paying your water bills and budgeting advice.
Customer resources
Customers on SHDF retrofit schemes can contact the Home Energy Accelerator Team (HEAT) at HEAT@Torus.co.uk