Funding secured to improve heating system for tower block residents

Customers at Austin House, in Walsall, are set to benefit from warmer homes and more efficient heating after whg secured funding to improve the building’s heating system.

The housing association has been awarded more than £45,700 through the government’s Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) to upgrade the low carbon heating network serving 65 apartments.

The funding will support a series of improvements to the building’s ground source heat pump system, helping to boost performance, improve heat delivery and increase overall efficiency.

Austin House made history in 2013 when it became the first tower block in the UK to be exclusively heated by a ground source heat pump, as part of a £3 million eco-improvement programme.

The new funding will allow whg to carry out targeted upgrades, including replacing older equipment, improving insulation and installing a new building management system to better control and monitor heating across the building.

Together, these improvements will help ensure customers benefit from a more consistent and efficient heating service, while also supporting lower energy use and reduced carbon emissions.

Paul Baker, Director of Assets – Investment at whg, said: “Securing this funding is really positive news for our customers at Austin House.

“These improvements will help us deliver a more reliable and efficient heating system, making homes warmer and more comfortable for customers.

“Austin House has always been an important part of our sustainability journey, and this investment helps us build on that by making sure the system continues to perform at its best for the people who live there.”

Louise Singleton, HNES Programme Manager, said: “We are delighted that 65 residents in Walsall will benefit from more efficient, cost-effective, and reliable heating with help from HNES support. The project is a prime example of the scheme’s mission to improve consumer confidence in heat network technology, particularly for low income families.”

The Heat Network Efficiency Scheme is a government programme designed to improve the performance of communal and district heating systems across England and Wales. In this round of the scheme, £15.6 million will go towards improving heating and hot water provision for 10,400 residents in England & Wales.

By investing in improvements to existing systems, the scheme aims to deliver better outcomes for residents while supporting the transition to low carbon heating.