Extra Care Scheme in Redruth Receives Government Funding for Solar Panels
Residents at Miners Court in Redruth, a town in Cornwall, will soon see a significant reduction in their energy bills thanks to a project funded by the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. Coastline Housing, the landlord of the Extra Care scheme, has been granted £468,863 to install rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the Miners Court building.
The project has already begun and is set to cover an area of 1960 square metres once completed. This will bring a substantial decrease in energy costs for the residents at the scheme. Ben Nevitte, who is overseeing the project at Coastline Housing, explains the impact this will have on the residents: “Residents at Miners Court have a range of support needs so often use a higher than normal amount of electricity, heating and hot water to meet their medical and equipment needs. Introducing this PV system to reduce their energy costs will help hugely in reducing the financial pressure on them during the ongoing cost of living and energy crisis.”
Miners Court is comprised of 64 self-contained flats and also offers communal and community facilities. It is estimated that each flat will save £162 a year on their electricity bill and receive an export income of £148 a year from the panels. In addition, there will be a further saving of £35 per year in energy costs for running the communal facilities. This translates to a benefit of £346 for each flat and a total of £22,126 a year for the entire scheme.
Hayleigh Harris, Extra Care Manager at Miners Court, expresses her excitement about the project: “Miners Court is a real hub of the community in Redruth and we love welcoming people in to attend our Day Centre and use facilities such as our on-site restaurant, assisted bathroom and hairdressers. This project is something really special for the building. Residents and visitors have all been following progress with interest and are really pleased to hear about the cost savings and energy efficiency it will bring.”
The installation of the panels is estimated to offset 41 tonnes of CO2 each year and increase the energy ratings of the flats. The project is set to be completed in March 2025.
The project is being undertaken by SunGift Solar and Coastline Housing’s own roofers, who have been trained to become competent PV installers for any future projects across the landlord’s stock of over 5,500 homes in Cornwall. This has also had a positive impact on the local economy and jobs market, providing opportunities for upskilling and learning new skills in the construction industry.
Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Economy, commends the project for its benefits to the community and the environment: “This is a fantastic example of how our Good Growth funding is making a real difference to vulnerable residents, as well as benefitting the environment and local tradespeople who have been able to gain new skills.”
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