Council’s social housing benefits from major energy efficiency upgrades
Publish Date: 1 July 2026
Hundreds of Wealden residents are benefiting from homes that are cheaper to run following energy efficiency improvements funded through the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.
As the grant recipient for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 2.2, Wealden District Council has worked alongside Osborne Energy, the council’s contractor and delivery partner, to bring energy-efficiency improvements to residents’ homes, helping to lower energy bills, reduce carbon emissions, and improve tenants’ comfort.
The council was awarded £1,472,639.56, which along with the match funding from the council’s Housing Revenue Account, has improved 228 of the council’s social housing.
The grant given to the council is from a government grant programme which provides funding to improve the energy efficiency of social housing by using renewable energy technologies and energy-saving measures, which included enhanced insulation, solar panels, and heat pumps, helping to improve comfort and reduce energy costs.
The council recently hosted a site visit for representatives from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), HM Treasury, and Salix. The visit gave government representatives the opportunity to meet residents who have benefited from the recent energy improvements.
The discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration among local authorities, delivery partners, supply chains, and government stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes for residents and ensure that public funding delivers maximum value.
Councillor Daniel Manvell, Alliance for Wealden (Labour Party) and lead councillor for Housing, Benefits and Revenues, said, “this government funding has boosted our cost-of-living support for Wealden residents, helping them to save money on their energy bills. It was great to meet Hailsham locals Bev and her husband Steve, who told me they had saved about a third off their bills so far. The renewed pride they have in their warmer, cosier home was clear, and they were pleased to be able to help reduce emissions in Wealden from their home.
“It was great to welcome Westminster officials to Wealden to showcase the real difference that we are making for our residents, working in strong partnership with local businesses. We are ambitious to continue delivering similar projects as quickly as we can, so that more of our residents can benefit from cheaper energy bills, warmer homes, and a greener planet.”
To see a case study featuring Hailsham resident Bev, who has benefited from the funding Wealden was given, click here.