Torus is currently on site in Haydock, St Helens, which will see tenants in 59 Torus homes benefit from a range of works to make tenants homes more energy efficient, improve health and general wellbeing too, while simultaneously helping the environment by reducing carbon emissions.

Torus homes on Grosvenor Road, Myrtle Avenue, Maple Avenue, Brookside View, and Richmond Avenue are the first of four retrofit home improvement projects in St Helens to start on site, with another seven schemes in Liverpool and Warrington which will see a total of 695 Torus properties across eleven projects, benefit from a range of retrofit energy-efficiency improvements.

Funding for the works, follow a successful bid by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) the Government's Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DoESNZ), Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF). Torus was awarded £6 million in March 2023, which has been added to a further £15.4 million from Torus, giving a total of around £22million being invested in energy improvement works.

The project in Haydock will see Torus customers benefit from measures including cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, windows, external doors, and improved ventilation.

Torus Energy and Sustainability Coordinator, Julie Anne Parker, said:

“Torus is all about its customers and improving their lives, these works will help people to reduce energy usage and reduce heat loss from homes which is incredibly important, with the continuing cost-of-living crisis.

“It’s great to finally start the works, our customers have been receptive of the work, taking keen interest in the energy efficiency measures being installed and how these additions will benefit them and their household. Prior to any works starting we held several special engagement events, including two Community Consultations events where our customers could meet the team including their Retrofit Coordinator, who visited their homes to create a bespoke home energy plan, ask questions and find out more about saving energy in the home.

“This was followed by a Community Action Day to help customers prepare for their works, with skips available to remove fly tipping, unwanted bulky household items, sprucing up of green spaces and getting advice relating to energy, debt, and finances in partnership with charity Torus Foundation.

“We were are also really keen to ensure we worked in partnership with colleagues in St Helens Borough Council to support a neighbourhood wide approach to retrofit, supporting the wider community in Haydock to access energy saving advice and provide information about different funding and finance available to private rented and owner occupiers living in the area.”

St Helens Council Home Energy Team are supporting homeowners to access financial support to make energy efficiency improvement to their homes through schemes such as ECO 4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme, as well as supporting those without a gas connection to upgrade their heating through the Liverpool City Regions Home Upgrade Grant 2 scheme - https://sthelens.gov.uk/sustainablewarmth.

Councillor Richard McCauley, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, said:

"We are pleased to support Torus with their drive to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Not only will the retrofit works reduce carbon emissions and help tackle climate change, but their tenants will benefit from warmer homes and reduced energy bills. We are also keen to highlight benefits of the Social Housing Decarbonisation programme to encourage all homeowners and landlords in the community to look at what support is available to improve the energy efficiency of their properties."

In addition to the home energy improvements, Torus will also be helping customers with a wider package of support which will include education about how to maximise the benefits of the home energy efficiency improvements and access to tailored home energy improvement plans based on households' individual circumstances and energy usage.

Works on the Haydock Grosvenor scheme are being delivered in partnership with Seddon Construction, Savills and Bernard Taylor (BTP architects). Talking about their involvement, Stephen Jones, Head of Delivery – Refurbishment & Retrofit at Seddon Housing Partnerships said:

“We’re delighted to be working with Torus on this project bringing much needed energy savings to residents. Funded through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund the works will improve the energy efficiency of these homes thus saving residents money on energy bills at a time when fuel bills continue to rise.”

The works will benefit the environment by helping to reduce carbon emissions, which supports Torus’ wider environmental sustainability strategy, which will play a key role helping the Liverpool City Region achieve net zero by 2040.

Other retrofit schemes being delivered in St Helens will include 96 homes in Haresfinch, 94 homes in Windlehurst, plus a further 85 homes in Haydock Central Drive area. All schemes are expected to be completed in the Summer of 2025. Find out more about all the eleven SHDF projects at torus.co.uk/SHDFRetrofit.

Check out the video below for a taster of the events and what it means for our customers: