Social landlords Adra, Grŵp Cynefin and partners have created jobs in a bid to decarbonise homes in Gwynedd.
Project Sero Net Gwynedd has received £589,203 of funding from the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund, with an additional £195,000 of match funding from partners.
It was part of £46m received in Wales this year as part of that UK fund - although critics of the fund allocation say that it compares to the £375m Wales would have had over the financial year from the EU, which UK Government had promised to match after Brexit.
The cash pot for this venture was one of the biggest received in North Wales and has created 26 jobs for the long-term unemployed and hundreds of training opportunities for young people and the local supply chain.
It will pay for training provided by partner Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s Centre for Infrastructure Skills and Technology (CIST) and also to help raise awareness about energy saving. It won't though pay for grants for work to be carried out on homes.
Adra was among the first housing associations in Wales to launch its decarbonisation strategy back in November 2020, alongside Welsh Minister for Climate Change Julie James, showing Adra’s commitment to the Welsh Government’s drive for zero carbon homes by 2030.
Supporting the local transition to net-zero, six community hubs will be developed across Gwynedd, showing residents how clean technology can contribute to decarbonisation solutions.
The innovative partnership includes social enterprises such as Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig and Partneriaeth Ogwen, which help communities to work together to become more sustainable.
Travis Perkins will work with local SMEs in Gwynedd to reduce carbon footprints and relevant training will be piloted to promote renewable energy, such as installing ground and air source heat pumps and solar panels.
Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said: “We are levelling up in every corner of the United Kingdom, backing locally-led projects that will make a real difference to communities and help to deliver our net zero commitments. There is incredible talent spread right across our great country and this investment will unlock the opportunities to match.”
Iwan Trefor Jones, Deputy Chief Executive - Adra, added: “Our project Sero Net Gwynedd will establish a multi-stakeholder approach to develop local capacity and manage the decarbonisation challenges of Gwynedd’s housing stock.
“It will deliver a plan for ensuring Gwynedd can lead on decarbonisation and learn from the experience to inspire similar approaches throughout the North Wales region and beyond.
“The partnership consists of strategic partners that will focus on providing advice to local customers, developing the supply chain as well as improving the skills of young people.”
Meleri Davies, Chief Officer, Partneriaeth Ogwen, said: “We are really pleased to be part of the Sero Net Gwynedd partnership. As a community driven organisation that places the community, environment and economy at the heart of what we do, we are well placed to drive the work within our communities and with existing and new customers."
