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Equans has been re-appointed by Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils to deliver vital energy efficiency retrofit works across their most disadvantaged households.
Under Wave 2 of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF), Equans has supported the councils to secure £1.5 million, a figure they matched, to retrofit 100 properties, after both councils declared a climate emergency in 2019 – pledging to have all socially rented properties upgraded to a minimum EPC C rating.
Equans, once again, worked with Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils to support in their Wave 3 application, in which they have been awarded £3 million to ensure another 168 homes will benefit from deep retrofit measures.
The scope of decarbonisation and energy efficiency works includes the extraction of old cavity wall and loft insulation, which will be refilled with modern, high-performing insulation; as well as replacement windows and doors. Work is now currently underway and is scheduled to complete in March 2027.
Equans’ work under the previous wave has resulted in average carbon savings of 1.9 tonnes CO2 per year across the 100 properties, with some homes even seeing a 54 point uplift in EPC rating, from F to B.
Rob Young, Regional Managing Director, Equans UK & Ireland, said: “We have seen first-hand how retrofit can change lives. The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund has been revolutionary in offering access to funds that can make homes warmer and more affordable for some of the most vulnerable groups in the country.
“We have supported social housing providers across the UK to secure and deliver £320 million of work through the fund and the results speak for themselves.
“We are proud of the work we delivered in Wave 2 and are pleased Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils have once again, trusted us to overhaul the properties under Wave 3 funding.”
Richard Spencer, Head of Asset Investment and Compliance, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils, said: “We are delighted to have delivered our first tranche of energy efficiency works via the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund here at Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Councils alongside our delivery partner Equans. The success of our first wave has seen over 400 measures installed and 100 of our worst performing properties upgraded to a minimum EPC C rating, a huge milestone for us.
“Given the successes and positive feedback from our residents on WH:SHF:Wave 2 we are proud to announce that we will be partnering with Equans Regeneration Ltd again to deliver our WH:SHF:Wave 3 scheme. This will see a further 168 properties retrofitted across the next year and a half as we take another step towards our Green Plan target to be EPC C by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050. We look forward to our next phase!”
FMJ and Watco Webinar: Meeting compliance in a new culture of accountability
From January 2026, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) formally separated from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Created under the Building Safety Act 2022 in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the BSR is designed to raise safety standards across the built environment and introduce a stronger culture of accountability, transparency, and proactive risk management.
This shift places facilities managers in a more strategic safety assurance role – far beyond routine maintenance.
FMJ and Watco are hosting a webinar on 22 April at 11:00am to explore what this new regulatory landscape means for FMs. To register for the webinar click here.
Can’t make it no problem…
Simply register above and after the webinar has been broadcast, we will send you a link to watch the recording.
