Greener homes get the go-ahead

Published: Friday, 26th March 2021

Sevenoaks District Council has secured almost £1.5 million from The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's (MHCLG) Green Homes Grant.

The grant will be used to make residents’ homes across the District greener, cheaper to heat and more energy efficient. The funding is being offered to 150 mobile home owners and the upgrades available include external wall insulation and underfloor or loft insulation.

Work has already begun on the £688k first phase of the project with the other £784k being allocated later in the year. The first four mobile home sites to be offered the green upgrades are Hedge Barton at Fordcombe, Pasadena and East Hill Farm (both located on East Hill) and Wickens Meadow at Dunton Green. So far, there have been over 50 successful applications to scheme with many more to follow in the second phase.

The Council estimate that when both phases of the project are complete, over the 25-year life cycle of a mobile home, 2,914 tonnes of CO2 will have been saved. That’s roughly the same amount as a double decker bus travelling around the world three and half times!

The new green measures are also cost effective, with a potential saving of £750,000 over the 25-year life cycle of the home for successful applicants.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Health, Cllr Kevin Maskell says: “We are delighted to have secured £1.5m from the Government’s Green Homes scheme for the benefit of mobile home owners in the Sevenoaks District. The funding will mean residents can enjoy warmer homes that are cheaper to heat and emit fewer carbon emissions – all while creating new work for local plumbers, builders and tradespeople.”

Cllr Maskell adds: “Energy efficient improvements to homes will contribute towards reducing fuel poverty and the Council’s Net Zero ambitions.”

The MHCLG’s Green Homes Grant is part of a nationwide scheme to upgrade 50,000 households with green improvements from a £562 million fund, reducing carbon emissions and supporting thousands of green jobs across the country