The retrofitting of all social housing in Harrogate to zero-carbon standards could cost around £100m and take a decade to complete.
The task has been described as a “huge undertaking” by Harrogate Borough Council, which has revealed plans to upgrade almost 4,000 homes across the district as part of an overall aim to achieve a net zero-carbon economy by 2038.
It will involve more energy-efficient heating systems, insulation, glazing and solar panels being installed to make homes greener – with a pilot scheme on 85 properties starting this summer.
Vincent van der Meulen, operations manager at the council, said the pilot scheme would provide a better idea of the overall costs which are currently estimated to be over £98m.
He also said the council would take “every opportunity” to use government funding to cover the costs.
He told a cabinet meeting on Tuesday:
“Harrogate Borough Council has a target to achieve net-zero emissions for the borough by 2038.
“To ensure our housing stock supports that ambition, a comprehensive and costed programme is required. The plan is intended to create a coordinated approach with a clear evaluation of the combined measures.
“The current estimated cost is in excess of £98million. However, this figure will be refined.”
Making houses greener is a key government target in the fight against climate change as the UK has some of the least energy efficient housing in western Europe.
This comes as the cost of keeping homes warm and running has been brought into sharp focus during the ongoing energy crisis, which is being driven by a surge in global gas and oil prices.
£2.3m pilot scheme
Harrogate Borough Council said it has already taken action to upgrade some of its social homes, although it added this has been done on an “ad hoc” basis and that its latest plans will provide a more coordinated approach.
Read more:
- Harrogate tourism body makes health and wellbeing top priority
- 15,000 Harrogate district households could miss out on council tax rebate
The pilot scheme will cost around £2.3million and run until mid-2023.
If it proves to be a success, the retrofitting of all social homes will start soon after with a completion target of mid-2033.
Councillor Mike Chambers, cabinet member for housing and safer communities at the council, said the plans should be made a high priority by the new North Yorkshire Council, which will take control of all services across the county from April 2023.
He said:
“We already have a stock of just short of 4,000 homes – all of which are above the government’s decent homes standard.
“I’m hopeful as we move forward we will be seen as leading in the field.
“Careful coordination will be needed when we come to the new North Yorkshire Council, particularly as we are only one of three councils in the county holding housing stock.
“We will make sure we provide a lead which others are keen to follow.”
Harrogate Borough Council has told residents not to drive to beauty spots for exercise in a bid to reduce coronavirus infection rates.
The council said in its latest newsletter that driving to Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Fewston and Swinsty reservoirs, and Stainburn Woods “is not acceptable.”
All are popular spots for district residents to visit, with many likely to drive there over this coming weekend.
However, those that do are running the risk of a fine according to the borough council.
Read more:
- Snow and ice warning for Harrogate district
- A further 41 coronavirus cases in the Harrogate district
North Yorkshire Police is also actively approaching people in the car parks and asking them where they are from.
Graham Hebblethwaite, chair of Washburn Parish Council, told the Stray Ferret:
“It has calmed down quite a bit now. The police are going into the car park, talking to people and finding out how far they have driven.
“I do fear that when the better weather returns that people will be back in their droves.”
The council’s newsletter, under a section called ‘exercising within the rules’, said:
“The lockdown laws do allow you to get out for daily exercise, but you must stay local to where you live. Please start and end your exercise from home.
“In the context of the lockdown, “local” means staying inside the boundaries of your village or town and not travelling somewhere to take a stroll or walk the dog.
“Driving to the other side of the district, into the Nidderdale AONB or to either of the national parks is not acceptable. If you do, you run the risk of a fine.”
We also requested clarification from North Yorkshire Police, which can hand out fines, and were sent a comment from Superintendent Mike Walker:
Harrogate embraces zero-waste shopping“If someone has travelled multiple miles to exercise, an officer has the option to encourage adherence or enforce the regulations.
“We do not expect people to travel multiple miles in a car to exercise in North Yorkshire.”
An increase in people wanting to live more sustainably has prompted the Refilling Station in Harrogate to move to larger premises.
The business reduces waste by asking customers to bring their own containers to buy products such as household cleaning products, dried food and toiletries.
The shop was originally based on Grove Road but outgrew the space as the concept took off.
It remained open during lockdown and this month relocated to larger premises on Cold Bath Road.
Lydia Ross, manager of the Harrogate store, said she was overwhelmed by the number of customers supporting the business. She said:
“We’re more visible now and we have lots of other shops around us. It was really tough during lockdown, we were just bombarded; we had queues outside the old shop and we were limited for space.”
The increase in customers has enabled the shop to extend its product range.
Customer numbers have continued to grow in the new premises, enabling the shop to expand its products.
Kirsty Dodds, who owns the Refilling Station stores in Harrogate and Chapel Allerton in Leeds, said:
“At the beginning people were saying it was a good idea but it was a new concept in town, but it’s growing now.
“It is becoming more normal to shop this way.”