£8.3m Social Housing Decarbonization Program Announced Across the North East

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A major collaborative decarbonisation initiative has been announced across the North East of England, with £8.3 million in capital investment set to upgrade hundreds of social housing properties, improve energy efficiency and help tackle fuel poverty.

Five North East social housing providers have come together to deliver the programme, which will benefit almost 650 homes across Newcastle, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside, County Durham, Tees Valley and Wear Valley. Collectively, the landlords will invest around £5.5 million, supported by a further £2.8 million in match funding through the UK Government’s Warm Homes Social Housing Fund (Wave 3).

The project is being facilitated by Prosper, bringing together North Star Housing Group, Tyne Housing, Livin Housing, Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association and Keelman Homes in a single, coordinated delivery model.

Delivery of the retrofit works will take place via Prosper’s 2025 Decarbonisation and Investment Works Framework, with Zenith Mechanical Services appointed following a competitive procurement process. The programme is expected to commence in early 2026 and run over the next three years.

Planned upgrades will be tailored to the age and condition of each property and include a combination of insulation improvements, solar photovoltaic panels, upgraded glazing, modern heating controls, air-source heat pumps and low-carbon lighting. All works are designed to be delivered with minimal disruption to residents while delivering long-term improvements in comfort and energy performance.

Funding allocations vary by provider, reflecting the scale and requirements of each housing portfolio. Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes will deliver improvements to more than 440 properties, while Livin Housing, North Star Housing, Tyne Housing and Keelman Homes will collectively upgrade a further 200+ homes across the region.

The programme forms part of the Government’s wider £1.29 billion Warm Homes Social Housing Fund, announced in the Autumn Budget 2024. The scheme aims to improve homes currently below EPC band C, reduce carbon emissions, support green jobs and strengthen the UK’s retrofit supply chain, with grant-funded projects delivered between 2025 and 2028.

What this means:

This initiative highlights how collaborative delivery models are becoming increasingly important in accelerating net-zero progress across the social housing sector. By pooling investment and coordinating procurement, housing providers can deliver retrofit at scale, secure better value for money and reduce delivery risk.

The focus on fabric efficiency, low-carbon heating and on-site renewables reflects a maturing retrofit approach that prioritises long-term performance rather than short-term interventions. Crucially, the programme also addresses fuel poverty alongside emissions reduction, ensuring social and economic outcomes are embedded within the net-zero transition.

As national funding streams continue to prioritize energy performance in existing housing stock, projects such as this demonstrate how regional partnerships can translate policy ambition into practical, place-based delivery improving homes today while supporting the UK’s long-term climate objectives.

Residents will be contacted directly by their housing providers ahead of works commencing in 2026.

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