Riverside has appointed WPS, part of The Wates Group, to deliver a landmark £72 million retrofit programme that will make over 3,000 homes warmer and more energy efficient.

The initiative is backed by £36 million from the Government’s Warm Homes Social Housing Fund (Wave 3), which Riverside is match funding.

The three-year programme will deliver energy efficiency improvements in 3,064 homes across Liverpool, Halton, Carlisle, Langley estate in Middleton, and Enfield in London – with further areas to be added in future phases.

WPS, a leading property services contractor with extensive experience in housing retrofit, will carry out a range of upgrades including cavity wall insulation, solar panel installation, roof alterations, external wall insulation, double glazing, new doors, and other measures to bring homes up to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C.

Works are expected to begin in early October.

Resident open days are being held in each area to provide more information and allow customers to meet the Riverside and WPS teams.

The partnership will help tackle fuel poverty, reduce carbon emissions, and create opportunities for local employment and community engagement.

It also supports Riverside’s commitment to sustainability and its role as a Strategic Partner of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

This new programme builds on the success of Riverside’s previous retrofit work under Wave 2.1, supported by £26m in funding, which saw energy efficiency upgrades delivered to over 1,000 homes across Carlisle, Halton, Liverpool and London.

WPS played a key role in that delivery, acting as Riverside’s contractor for the South – making them a trusted and proven partner for this next phase.

Ian Gregg, Chief Property Officer at Riverside, said:

“We’re pleased to be working with WPS to deliver this transformative retrofit programme, which marks another major step towards our goal of making Riverside homes energy efficient by 2030.

“These improvements will make thousands of properties warmer, more comfortable and more affordable to live in – helping to lower energy bills and reduce fuel poverty.

“We’ve seen first-hand the positive impact of retrofit works through previous programmes, and we’re proud to be building on that success and scaling up our efforts to reach even more households.”

David Morgan, Executive Managing Director at WPS, added:

“We’re delighted to be continuing our partnership with Riverside on this ambitious retrofit programme, building on the success of our work together during Wave 2.1.

“Our teams are committed to delivering high-quality, energy-efficient upgrades that will help residents to thrive in their homes.

“This work is not just about improving homes – warmer homes that are cheaper to heat drive better economic and health outcomes for residents, while reducing the impact of homes on the planet, so we’re proud to support Riverside on the journey to net-zero and through the energy transition.”

For more information on Riverside’s commitment to energy efficiency, visit www.riverside.org.uk