Client
Poplar HARCA
Client objective
Helping Poplar HARCA to maximise energy efficiency.
Poplar HARCA is a registered social landlord which owns and manages around 8,500 homes in Poplar, East London. As part of its aim to meet the need for good quality affordable housing, Poplar HARCA had previously embarked on one-off ECO activity that was yielding poor returns. It decided to take a more strategic, holistic approach to create and deliver an energy strategy for the benefit of its residents.
AgilityEco (in partnership with Pellings) was engaged by Poplar HARCA to develop an energy and sustainability strategy and delivery plan covering ECO, renewable heat and solar for its residential and non-residential property stock.
Our approach
Our two-staged approach started with the design and development of a strategy to maximise ECO funding worth in the region of £1.7m across 1,400 properties in Poplar HARCA’s residential housing portfolio. We identified suitable prospects for insulation measures and analysed the ECO funding opportunity.
- SectorHousing Association
- ServiceFunding & Finance
Our solution
Faced with a sudden change to the ECO funding landscape, AgilityEco had to rapidly mobilise the programme into delivery. A significant programme of hard to treat insulation measures was completed before the ECO funding ended. Not only did AgilityEco succeed in meeting the compressed delivery timescale, but we also transformed a poor-performing scheme into one that delivered added value. Through smart negotiation of the funding and procurement strands of the project, we succeeded in creating an additional funding pot of £650k for the HA which will be used to seed-fund additional projects.
The second stage of the project examined the broader energy strategy, including the integration of renewable solutions, additional energy efficiency measures such as LED lighting and other funding sources such as RHI and FIT.
One outcome of this second phase was the installation of solar PV on four of Poplar HARCA's communal blocks. Further plans for a broader rollout of solar are being considered, financed through an innovative funding model delivering benefits to local residents - a Community Benefit Fund.
£650,000Additional funding pot created by AgilityEco
1400Properties in the portfolio that were analysed for ECO funding
AgilityEco have provided an exceptional service in all areas exceeding our expectations. AgilityEco’s in-depth knowledge of the ECO funding process and current market conditions has been excellent and has provided us with confidence in these uncertain times.
Paul Dooley
Director of Estate Regeneration
Poplar HARCA
How can we help?
Our team’s extensive knowledge and experience, along with our strong partner network enable us to plan, manage and source funding for energy efficiency and carbon reduction projects. We’ve built and delivered some of the largest and most successful energy efficiency programmes in the UK.
