Gloucester City Homes (GCH) has started work to improve the energy efficiency of around 170 of its homes between 2022 and 2024.

The programme, worth £5.8 million, has been boosted by government grants worth £2 million.

Investment is being made in external wall cladding and ventilation upgrades to help cut carbon emissions and improve the health and wellbeing of tenants. The upgrades will see homes being warmer in winter, whilst the added insulation will also keep them cooler in the summer.

Recently completed work at Silver Close in Tuffley has moved homes from an EPC E rating to EPC rating B - offering a reduction in carbon emissions by 40% and energy consumption by 47%.

Michael Hill, executive director of customer experience at GCH, said: "It's been estimated that, on average, every full step up the EPC ladder is equivalent to an energy saving of £250 each time. So taking homes from an EPC rating E to EPC rating B could potentially save our customers £750 per year at this time when energy prices remain high."

A further six bungalows across White City and Coney Hill have also received a mixture of new heating and insulation upgrades and solar panels.

Further insulation work is nearing completion on four blocks in Matson and work will begin shortly on a further 15 blocks - three in the Linden area and 12 in Matson.

Alongside these works, GCH has set aside up to £16.7 million to ensure all its properties achieve at least an EPC rating of C by 2030.