Manchester commits £15m to make council homes sustainable

The money will go towards reducing carbon in 300 homes in Newton Heath and Blackley.

Work is set to begin in early 2022. Improvements will include new heat pump systems and radiators to replace the current gas heating system and installing low-energy lighting. The council will also supply triple-glazed windows and install new floor insulation in the basement sand wall insulation in unheated, communal areas.

Repairs are also included in the improvement works, including the repair and cleaning of external wall insulation and fire breaks. The council will be resurfacing balcony floors, replacing balustrade systems and re-painting communal areas.

The upgrades will save 750 tonnes of carbon a year, according to the council.

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Of the £15m, £12.5m would be spent improving the four residential blocks on Croyden Drive Estate: Lancaster, Lincoln, Dobson and Shackleton Courts. The proposed upgrades will help 288 flats at the estate and result in reducing carbon emissions there by 80%.

At the Riverdale maisonettes in Higher Blackley, £2.5m will be spent to improve 28 properties. The improvement works are slated to reduce carbon emissions by 92%.

“This is timely investment in these North Manchester homes with a key focus on improving sustainability and limiting the carbon footprint of these properties,” said Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration. “Not only will this make the homes more comfortable, but also cheaper for residents.”

He added later: “The pandemic has shown us the importance of a safe and secure house – and our priority as a Council is to ensure that Manchester residents have a decent place to call home, while also investing in sustainable technologies to help us meet our zero-carbon target by 2038.”