Nearly 6,000 homes and 140 buildings across Sunderland are set to benefit from home improvements as part of Gentoo’s multi-million-pound investment plan for 2024/25.
The £42.9 million plan will see 6,644 customers benefit from home improvements, ranging from loft insulation top-ups to new kitchens and bathrooms.
It will also see work on ongoing programmes completed, such as the replacement of Washington’s district heating system and the Pennywell whole-house improvement scheme.
The works, which will be carried out by a range of Gentoo’s contractors, include:
- Painting the outside of properties
- Roof replacements and external improvements
- Installation of new boilers and heating systems
- Energy Efficiency Improvements including loft insulation
- Garage demolitions
- Fire alarm replacements
- Replacing the district heating system in Washington
- Installation of new kitchens and bathrooms
- Electrical rewires
As part of Gentoo’s drive to reduce carbon emissions in Sunderland, this year’s investment plan has a large focus on improving the energy efficiencies of properties by giving customer the option of removing fires and topping up loft insulation. The scheme, which is part funded through the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, is part of Gentoo’s continued effort to improve the energy efficiency rating of its properties. An improved EPC energy efficiency rating means properties will require less energy or heat to run.
Gentoo is committed to all its properties having an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least C by 2030. A C rating is given to a home built using energy efficient building methods or one which has undergone renovation work aimed at increasing its energy efficiency.
By the end of March 2024, Gentoo had 20,830 of its homes with an EPC rating of C or above, representing 72.9% of its total properties. That compared to 17,818 at the end of March 2023, which was 62.24% of total properties, representing a 10.75% increase in the last 12 months. This leaves 7,710 Gentoo homes where work is still needed to achieve an EPC C rating to meet the 2030 target.
Marc Edwards, Director of Asset and Sustainability at Gentoo said:
“I’m thrilled to be able to share details of Gentoo’s 2024/25 investment plan.
“The 2024/25 investment plan has a huge emphasis on making Gentoo properties more energy efficient, which in return will help lower the cost of customer’s fuel bills.
“We’re looking forward to working with a range of contractors to deliver the work and ensure our customers have a safe place to live that they are proud to call home.”
All customers whose homes are part of this year’s investment plan should have already received a letter notifying them of the planned works.
A comprehensive list of schemes and the properties included is available here: www.gentoogroup.com/investmentplan24/25
