Gloucestershire-based Two Rivers Housing has secured more than half a million pounds in government funding to launch a decarbonisation demonstrator project.

The project will provide Two Rivers with valuable information about the energy efficiency and performance of its older properties. It will be used to help the housing association create an improvement works plan for its homes over the next 30 years, in line with its ambition to become a zero carbon organisation by 2050.

Garry King, chief executive of Two Rivers Housing, said: "We believe that everyone should have access to a warm, safe, affordable home when they need it. Affordability isn't just about the amount of rent you pay - it's also about the cost of living in that house, keeping your family warm in the winter and keeping the lights on."

Each of the selected homes in the demonstrator project will be assessed individually. The Two Rivers Housing team will work with tenants to agree a combination of improvements to the fabric of the building. Low carbon or energy efficient heating systems, renewable technology and SMART technology will be used to find the best solution for each property.

The information provided by the demonstrator project will help Two Rivers Housing ensure future works deliver value for money and the best outcomes for its tenants, its homes, and the organisation.

Garry continued: "This pilot will give us a detailed picture of how our older homes are performing and the challenges that we need to overcome to make them more energy efficient. It will enable us to create a long-term plan of improvements, as we seek to reduce our impact on the environment and continue to deliver on our promise to provide great homes."

The funding bid was submitted in conjunction with Stroud District Council and Cheltenham Borough Homes, which are also undertaking similar projects in the county. It will come from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, which is part of the government's wider £3.8bn pledge to help the UK reach its zero carbon target by 2050.

Two Rivers Housing secured the maximum grant of 50 per cent of the total costs of the demonstrator project and will invest a further £525,000 to support its delivery.

Two Rivers Housing currently provides more than 4,100 homes across the Forest of Dean and Gloucestershire and has pledged to build 1,000 new affordable homes by 2028. The demonstrator project will be completed by the end of 2021.