Barcud housing association recently started capital investment works on homes at Maes y Deri housing estate in Talybont, Ceredigion, with completion scheduled for early 2027.
Llyr Edwards, Barcud’s Director of Safe Homes, said, “The work at Maes y Deri forms part of Barcud’s continued investment in decarbonising our housing stock and improving the energy efficiency of our homes. During the last financial year, Barcud committed over £1 million of capital investment towards external wall insulation improvements, including works to 16 homes across Tan y Berth, Maes Seilo and Kingsmead.
“This ongoing investment demonstrates our commitment to providing warmer, more energy-efficient homes for our tenants. By improving insulation and reducing heat loss, these improvements can help lower household energy bills, enhance thermal comfort and reduce the environmental impact of our homes. Decarbonising our housing stock remains a key priority for Barcud as we continue to invest in improving the quality, affordability and long-term sustainability of our homes.”
The capital investment works to the properties includes:
• New roof lines including rainwater goods and ventilation
• Removal of old cavity wall insulation and refill with new material
• Provision of external wall insulation (EWI)
• Upgrading roof space insulation where required
• Solar photovoltaic panels complete with battery storage
• Upgrading of extraction fans to kitchens and bathrooms to improve ventilation
Miss Evans, a tenant at Maes Seilo estate, Aberystwyth, is very happy with the work that was carried out on her home and said the property looks much better as a result. The house has had external wall insulation, new guttering and solar panels installed and there will be a new canopy installed over the front door. Miss Evans said, “I have already noticed a decrease in my electricity bills as a result.”
Westdale Midlands Ltd were contracted to do both phase one and two works alongside Barcud contractors who replaced windows in properties that needed them at the same time.
Mike Rothwell, Design Manager with Westdale Midlands Ltd, said, “It is amazing that Barcud has gone to the measures it has done for existing properties. To do all this work is an amazing service offer for tenants. It is a pleasure to work with a client that is forward thinking. We appreciate the works are disruptive to tenants but we hope they forgive us when they see the difference the short term inconvenience makes to their energy bills in the long run.”
The Barcud group is based in mid and west Wales and is committed to developing affordable homes for rent and purchase, as well as providing essential first-class housing support and maintenance services for tenants and communities. Seventy-six percent (over 3,300) of Barcud’s homes are in Energy Performance Certificate bands A, B or C.