North Lincolnshire Council and delivery partner YES Energy Solutions have won a national Public Service Excellence Award for their recent Park Home regeneration project.
The council was selected out of 300 local authorities and eight finalists to win “Best Housing, Regeneration or New Build Initiative” as part of the 2017 APSE Service Awards.
In addition, the council were finalists in the category of Best Service Team of the Year – Street Cleansing and Streetscene Service. This was in recognition of the work of a number of dedicated staff who have been working together across a number of services to improve the local environment within the Scunthorpe North area.
Representatives from the council’s Environmental Health and Housing team joined staff from YES Energy Solutions to receive their award at last Thursday’s ceremony, held at the Kings Centre in Oxford.
The Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) is a respected organisation dedicated to promoting the very best local authority schemes that improve and enhance communities throughout the UK.
Their Service Awards run every year and highlight outstanding achievements from the public sector.
North Lincolnshire Council wowed the judges with their latest regeneration programme which has helped transform the thermal values of over 50 Park Homes in North Lincolnshire.
Park Homes are considered some of the least energy efficient properties in the country. Their thin walls bear little resistance to escaping heat and many are situated off the mains gas network, leaving residents relying on expensive fuel sources (LPG or electricity) to keep warm.
The majority of people living in Park Homes are also elderly and vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home.
Committed to helping local residents save energy, North Lincolnshire Council teamed up with energy experts YES Energy Solutions to offer fully funded external wall insulation upgrades to a series of Park Homes.
Funding from the NEA’s Technical Innovation Fund was secured which was then blended with the Council’s own energy efficiency grants and loan facilities.
The project not only helped regenerate a number of old and exposed properties but helped a community of elderly residents slash their fuel bills and improve their health and wellbeing.
Cllr Richard Hannigan, cabinet member for Safer, Greener and Cleaner Places, said:
“We’re delighted that we have managed to help a group of potentially vulnerable residents improve their homes and take control of their energy bills.
“Winning this award is a fantastic achievement for the Council and for our partners YES Energy Solutions. It is a testament to the team’s hard work and commitment and also highlights our passion for improving property standards across North Lincolnshire.
“We look forward to developing our now – award winning scheme, to help more people save energy and money.
“On top of this, the Street Cleansing and Streetscene Service team were finalists in the Best Service Team of the Year award, which is a fantastic achievement. Congratulations to the team. Your brilliant work has been recognised nationally.”
North Lincolnshire Council is continuing to work with YES Energy Solutions to support Park Home residents and is currently rolling out a second phase of the scheme.
For more information visit: www.yesenergysolutions.co.uk/park-home-insulation-north-lincolnshire.html.