Ashford Borough Council backs ground source heat pump scheme

Residents in 74 homes are having their lives changed and bills reduced thanks to ground source heat pumps (GSHP) in Appledore and Charing. The £2.2m scheme is the first time that Ashford Borough Council has installed GSHP heating systems in its residential properties.

The scheme is part of a bigger drive by the council to retrofit around 700 homes with energy-saving measures using Government funding of £5.1m. The money – from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2 – is bolstered by a £6.2m contribution from the council.

Working with a delivery partner, improvements already delivered over the past 18 months includes cavity wall insulation, external wall insulation, new windows and doors, under floor insulation, air source heat pumps and solar panels.

Cllr Noel Ovenden, Council Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing, said:

“These measures will cut carbon emissions, help reduce energy demand and give residents more money in their pockets from cheaper energy bills. We’re working closely with our tenants to ensure they understand how the GSHP systems work and to recognise the tremendous benefits they will enjoy because of these exciting improvements.

“Embracing ground source heat pump technology is an exciting first for Ashford Borough Council and I’m confident it will transform tenants’ lives by boosting energy security, saving money and providing a warmer and more comfortable home for them to enjoy. “In addition to these life-changing benefits for tenants, the upgrades to our most energy-inefficient rural homes will help the council with our ambition to become a carbon neutral borough by 2030.”

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