West Midlands Mayor Andy Street says Solihull is joining the ‘retrofit’ revolution - making older homes warmer and more eco-friendly while helping residents cut their energy bills.
Mr Street, who leads the West Midlands Combined Authority, was speaking after visiting Alston Road in Solihull, where pioneering work has seen energy saving measures installed on more than 60 properties.
The homes, which are a mix of privately owned and properties managed by Solihull Community Housing, have benefited from various upgrades, including external wall insulation (EWI) and loft insulation.
Mr Street, who grew up locally, said: “Solihull is a great place to live but just like everywhere else there are plenty of older homes that could benefit from upgrades that will make them more energy efficient.
“Retrofitting homes presents a huge opportunity for our region – it cuts energy bills for local people and boosts skills and job prospects, while also tackling the climate emergency.
“In Solihull, over half of households on Alston Road are set to benefit from homes that are both warmer and cheaper to heat.
“The WMCA has already secured £70 million of Government funding and match funding from housing providers. This cash injection is helping to get homes retrofitted as well as building up a retrofit workforce.”
The work has been targeted at homes with an energy performance rating of D or below, supporting residents with the cost-of-living pressures and to help tackle the climate emergency.
A typical home loses approximately 35% of heating through its walls so adding external wall insulation is an effective way of improving energy efficiency.