Waltham Forest Council says the move will also save more than £17,000 in running costs, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter
Waltham Forest Council has retrofitted a block of flats in a bid to make residents safer, warmer and to save thousands of pounds.
Southfield Court, in Leytonstone, is a council-owned hostel that provides temporary accommodation for homeless and at-risk residents.
Work began on the scheme in 2022, after the building was identified for a full retrofit in 2021.
The council hopes it will now see up to 60% less energy use, which it says will save 74.5 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, and financial savings of more than £17,000.
Councillor Ahsan Khan, co-deputy leader of the council, said: “Southfield Court was an ambitious and collaborative project that transformed a four-storey, 40-flat hostel into sustainable housing where residents are now proud to live.
“It’s vital that all homes across the borough become more energy efficient. Reducing our carbon emissions from homes will also help us future proof our properties and move closer to our net zero carbon ambitions.”
The quality of the council’s hostels came under fire in 2022 by homeless residents who said the conditions were “unsuitable”.
One mother spent a year-and-a-half living in one with her young daughter. She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she said was “petrified” by the “mad drama,” while others said the conditions were generally “appalling”.
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At the time, a spokesperson for the council said it works hard to ensure those at risk of homelessness have “a roof over their head” while looking for suitable settled accommodation.
They added: “We appreciate how stressful the situation is for anyone in this position. Local demand for housing is increasing, and the supply of affordable properties is limited.
In 2021, the building was identified as having a low energy performance rating and required numerous upgrades to its roof, windows, doors and other structures.
As most flats were fully occupied when works began, the council devised a plan to build a steel structure above the roof so new insulation, air-source heat pumps and solar panels could be installed with minimum disruption.
Other energy efficient measures included upgrading insulation, lighting, ventilation, and external wall insulation.
The council says its residents are now safer thanks to the new windows, doors and sprinkler systems.
Residents have also felt a “noticeable difference” in temperature of the building thanks to the air source heat pump, new ventilation and insulation.
Earlier this month, the council greenlit a scheme to use two hotels that previously housed asylum seekers to shelter residents facing homelessness.
The London Walthamstow Hotel and the Sleeping Beauty Motel, in Lea Bridge Road, will be converted into temporary accommodation later this year.
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