Warm Homes Wave 3 Funding for Social Housing
Wave 3 funding offers a significant opportunity for social housing providers to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance tenant living conditions.
This article explores the objectives of the Warm Homes Social Housing Fund Wave 3, the benefits of accessing this funding, and how Bell can help deliver expert decarbonisation solutions, ensuring compliance and improving quality of life for residents.
Get in touch today to discuss the Warm Homes Fund Wave 3.
Understanding Warm Homes Wave 3 Funding for Social Housing
The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fun (WH:SHF) Wave 3 or formerly known as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), aims to help social housing providers achieve the UK’s sustainability and decarbonisation targets.
This funding supports energy-efficient upgrades to properties, focusing on creating warmer, more energy-efficient homes for tenants, while reducing carbon emissions across the social housing sector.
What is Wave 3 Funding?
Wave 3 funding is part of the UK Government’s initiative to decarbonise social housing. The primary goal is to reduce carbon emissions from social housing stock, improve energy efficiency, and create healthier living environments for tenants. In fact, by 2050, the UK government has committed to achieving net zero emissions and Wave 3 is going to help them get there.
- The focus is on energy-efficient upgrades, such as insulation, renewable heating systems, and low-carbon technologies.
- Properties targeted for funding must have an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of Band C or below, ensuring that the funding addresses homes in need of improvement.
Who is Eligible for Wave 3 Funding?
With around £1.29 billion pledged to go to a maximum of 140,000 social homes there is plenty of money to go around.The funding is available to various organisations involved in social housing, including:
- Registered social landlords (RSLs)
- Combined authorities such as housing associations
- Local authorities
- Registered charities
Eligibility criteria:
- Homes must have an EPC Band C rating or below.
- Homes retrofitted in Wave 2 are not eligible
- Your property can be on or off the gas grid
- Minimum of 100 social housing properties at EPC Band D per application
- The application process requires a detailed proposal outlining the planned energy-efficient upgrades.
How Wave 3 Funding Supports Energy-Efficient Upgrades?
Wave 3 funding supports a range of energy-efficient improvements, which can include:
- Wall, underfloor, and loft insulation: Enhances heat retention, reducing heating costs.
- Renewable heating systems: Such as heat pumps, which provide efficient and sustainable heating.
- Low-carbon technologies: Solar PV and smart energy systems that reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
These improvements lead to financial, environmental, and social benefits for both housing providers and tenants, contributing to sustainability and reducing running costs.
Benefits of Wave 3 Funding for Social Housing Providers
Wave 3 funding presents multiple advantages for social housing providers, including financial savings, environmental benefits, and increased tenant satisfaction.
Reducing Energy Costs for Tenants
Energy-efficient upgrades lead to significant savings on energy bills for tenants. By improving insulation and installing modern heating systems, homes become warmer and more comfortable, reducing the need for high heating costs during the colder months.
- Improved insulation and heating systems ensure tenant comfort while reducing energy consumption.
- Tenants benefit from lower energy costs, which contribute to improved quality of life.
Tackling Fuel Poverty and Cutting Carbon Emissions
Wave 3 funding supports the delivery of energy-efficient, decarbonised homes, a crucial step in reducing both fuel poverty and CO₂ emissions. These improvements make homes warmer, healthier, and more affordable to run, particularly for low-income tenants.
- By lowering energy consumption, retrofitted homes help reduce household energy bills and improve financial resilience for residents.
- Decarbonising housing stock plays a key role in meeting local and national carbon reduction targets, contributing to long-term environmental goals.
- Tenants in energy-efficient homes report higher satisfaction levels due to improved comfort and reduced heating costs, helping to boost retention and reduce complaints.
Achieving Long-Term Sustainability Goals
Warm Homes Wave 3 funding allows social housing providers to meet long-term sustainability goals. These improvements help providers comply with future energy performance regulations, ensuring that properties remain up to standard for years to come.
- These upgrades ensure that housing providers meet decarbonisation targets and comply with updated building regulations.
- Providers can secure future-proof properties that contribute to the UK’s net-zero emissions goal by 2050.
Access to Cutting-Edge Low-Carbon Technologies
Wave 3 funding supports the integration of innovative technologies such as PV panels, heat pumps, and smart energy systems. These technologies reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency in social housing communities.
- Solar panels and heat pumps are just some of the solutions available through Wave 3 funding.
- These technologies reduce reliance on fossil fuels, helping to create a cleaner environment for social housing communities.
Key Information About Warm Homes Wave 3 Funding
Social housing providers often face confusion around the specifics of funding opportunities, especially when it comes to complex initiatives like WH:SHF Wave 3. With deadlines and strict requirements to meet, it can be overwhelming to navigate the process.
However, understanding the key details, such as funding allocation, application timelines, and eligibility criteria, can simplify the process and ensure your organisation makes the most of this valuable funding opportunity. In this section, we’ll break down everything you need to know to successfully access and utilise Wave 3 funding.
Funding Allocation
The total funding available for Wave 3 is around £1.29 billion, with significant sums allocated to support energy-efficient improvements across the country.
You can access the funding via two routes:
- Challenge fund: This route is designed to provide funding for a wide range of organisations, including smaller landlords and those with limited retrofit experience, offering greater flexibility and autonomy in project delivery. It guarantees funding for all applications meeting the minimum requirements, with a phased approach to delivery, less data reporting, and the ability to take on leadership roles for future retrofit scaling.
- Strategic partnerships: This route is aimed at organisations with a proven track record of successful delivery and ambitious plans, enabling access to funding for large-scale projects aligned with strategic priorities. It offers a closer relationship with the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ), requires less detail in applications, and provides tailored evaluation support to improve retrofit processes and scale future delivery, while applicants are not required to meet specific strategic priorities or conduct self-evaluations.
Scope of Work
WH:SDF Wave 3 brings a comprehensive approach to improving energy efficiency, offering upgrades such as underfloor, wall, and loft insulation, alongside renewable energy systems and low-carbon technologies. These improvements not only reduce carbon footprints but also make homes more sustainable and cost-effective to run.
Key aims of WH:SHF Wave 3 include:
- Tackling fuel poverty: Enhancing energy efficiency helps lower household energy costs, making heating more affordable.
- Reducing carbon emissions: Investing in greener technologies supports the UK’s net-zero targets.
- Improving resident wellbeing: Warmer, healthier homes contribute to better comfort and overall quality of life.
- Supporting a green economy: Expanding the retrofit sector drives innovation, creates jobs, and provides upskilling opportunities within the social housing industry.
Timeline and Application Deadlines
The application process for Warm Homes Social Housing Wave 3 funding has clear deadlines, so social housing providers must plan early to ensure they meet submission deadlines.
The Wave 3 timeline is as follows:
- Draft guidance: 13th May 2024
- Clarification period ends: 3rd June 2024
- Scheme launch: September 2024
- Application begins: 30th September 2024
- Application window closes: 25th November 2024
- Successful projects notified: Early 2025
- Deadline for grant funding transfers and spending: 31st March 2028
- Delivery window ends: 30th September 2028
Providers should have prepared their proposals well in advance to ensure they could secure funding and complete projects within the required timeframes.
Government Objectives and Regulations
WM:SHF Wave 3 plays a key role in supporting the UK Government’s broader decarbonisation efforts, aligning with the target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. By focusing on the social housing sector, this initiative helps drive sustainability while reducing the environmental impact of housing.
To participate, applicants must:
- Meet safety and construction standards – All projects must comply with PAS2035/2030:2023, ensuring robust quality checks and that installers adhere to the same standards.
- Align with updated building regulations – Properties must meet the latest sustainability and energy efficiency requirements, reinforcing long-term environmental benefits.
Why Choose Bell for the Warm Homes Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 3
Bell is the trusted partner for social housing decarbonisation projects, offering extensive experience in managing energy-efficiency upgrades across the UK. Our commitment to improving tenant well-being and ensuring compliance with decarbonisation regulations sets us apart.
All Wave 3 installers must be TrustMark registered (or equivalent). As an experienced PAS2030 and Trustmark accredited contractor in the UK, we are also a founding member of the National Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG) and a member of the Greater London Authority (GLA) Retrofit Accelerator. So, you can rest assured that we can be trusted to deliver your project compliantly and on time.
Bell’s team provides tailored social housing upgrades, from insulation improvements to heating system upgrades and renewable energy installations. We prioritise safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness, ensuring that all work is completed to the highest standards.
Our customer-first approach ensures that projects are delivered on time and on budget, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to create long-lasting and sustainable solutions.
FAQs About Warm Homes Social Housing Fund Wave 3
What is Wave 3 funding?
Wave 3 funding supports energy-efficient upgrades for social housing, aimed at reducing carbon emissions and improving living conditions for tenants.
What does Wave 3 funding cover for social housing?
Wave 3 funding covers various energy-efficient upgrades such as insulation, new heating systems, and low-carbon technologies like solar panels and heat pumps.
How can Wave 3 funding benefit social housing providers?
Wave 3 funding helps social housing providers by addressing a range of disrepair issues, from insulation to heating system upgrades, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and reducing long-term costs.
How does Bell support Wave 3 projects?
Bell provides end-to-end support for Wave 3 projects, managing everything from planning and design to the execution of energy-efficient upgrades, ensuring high-quality results.
Why is decarbonisation important for social housing?
Decarbonisation reduces environmental impact, cuts energy costs, and ensures compliance with future regulations, ultimately improving living conditions and tenant satisfaction.
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