10 May 2023
Your request
This FOI request is restricted to works to be carried out under funding through the government’s Homes Upgrade Grant: scheme which aims to support ‘installing energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating.’ Councils bid for money, then distribute it to eligible households, falling into three categories: ‘low income, off the gas grid, or have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) between D and G.’ In London the GLA was awarded £12m on behalf of a consortium of 31 councils. (Havering & Sutton were not listed so presumably did not bid, or bid separately).
I’ve submitted separate FOI requests about:
- The Social Housing Decarbonsation Fund (SHDF), covering energy efficiency works to council homes, and heat pumps or solar panels part-funded by the SHDF, and self-funded schemes.
- The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS): for non-residential council buildings like leisure centres or offices.
So I don’t need information about these schemes here.
Background explanation
Asking for information on heat pumps and solar panels could be complicated by the fact that councils could (part) fund them by at least four different sources: from their own resources, or supported by three different government schemes aimed at reducing carbon emissions: the PSDS; SHDF; and HUG. I assume different council teams deal with these schemes, so I’ll put in separate requests for each in the hope of making it easier for officers.
Questions
1. How much did you bid for from HUG? To fund improvements to how many homes?
2. Havering & Sutton: got no funding. Did you bid for some? If not, why?
3. How much was your council awarded? (Of the £12m). To fund improvements to how many homes?
4. Can you provide estimates for how much will be spent on:
a) Energy efficiency measures? (Amount and/or proportion). Number of homes/blocks to be fitted.
b) Heat Pumps? (Amount and/or proportion). Number of homes/blocks to be fitted.
c) Solar panels? (Amount and/or proportion). Number of homes/blocks to be fitted.
The Mayor of London
5. If you have received any support from the GLA separate to the HUG programme, brief details would be appreciated. (The London Plan enables boroughs to collect Carbon Offset contributions from developers. The Mayor’s London Net Zero Updated Pathway of 2022, included the following schemes: Mayor’s Energy Efficiency Fund; Green New Deal Fund; Retrofit Accelerator; Local Energy Accelerator; Solar Together London; London Community Energy Fund).
6. If any councils collaborated with other public bodies or housing associations to bulk buy solar panels or heat pumps under HUG it would be useful to get brief details of that. (I assume not)
If officers would like to make brief additional comments they would be gratefully received. Eg, Labour shortages might restrict possible works.
Our response
HUG Q-4 and 6
- We are part of a West London Consortium led by Ealing Council.
- Lambeth allocation was £748k looking to get 125 referrals.
- We cannot provide details of the breakdown of measures as our HUG properties are only at pre-technical survey stage.
GLA separate to HUG Q5
- No other funds were received via those named schemes.