Reasons for decision: The named company has been chosen as the preferred supplier for the work via a Park Homes retrofit tender exercise run through the Midlands Net Zero Hub (MNZH) Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) in conjunction with Commercial Services and Sustainability & Climate Change officers.

The project, to install selected retrofit measures including External Wall insulation (EWI), Loft Insulation (LI) and Underfloor Insulation (UFI) across fuel poor Park Homes in Herefordshire uses Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) Phase 2 funding from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) via MNZH.

39 Park Home installations to be completed across Herefordshire by the end of March 2025.

Fuel poverty remains a significant issue in Herefordshire, with an estimated 14,145 (16.7%) of households in fuel poverty across the county.

Fuel poverty levels in the county are a result of a combination of low incomes, above average numbers of older, ‘hard to treat’ properties and poor coverage of the mains gas network, due to rurality.

Many homes in the county therefore rely on expensive heating fuel systems and as a result have poor energy efficiency ratings and high relative greenhouse gas emissions. There are an estimated 60,000 properties Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rated D to G (Building Research Establishment 2019) in Herefordshire.

The Home Upgrade Grant scheme aims to raise the energy efficiency of low-income and low EPC rated homes including those living in the worst quality off-gas grid homes, delivering progress towards: reducing fuel poverty, the phasing out of high carbon fossil fuel heating and the national and local commitments to net zero. The fund also aims to support the green recovery in response to the economic impacts of Covid-19 and to help take low-income families out of fuel poverty.