Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund – Update on Refresh
The fund is now open to receive applications with a checkpoint in October 2023, with an application deadline of 11 October 2023.
As you may be aware, The Scottish Government has been working on refreshing the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund (SHNZHF) application process to ensure it is offering the best support to the Social Housing Sector in their efforts to decarbonise their housing stock.
This work has now been completed and the Fund is now open for applications.
As part of the refresh there are key changes to the Fund. These changes include the following:
- The extension of “Fabric First” funding until 2026, ensuring applicants can continue to undertake projects to ensure their current housing stock is made more energy efficient.
- The introduction of an average grant cap per property of £35,000 to ensure the funding goes further across the sector and reaches a wide breadth of properties.
- The introduction of rural and remote location uplifts. Rural and island communities face different challenges when delivering decarbonisation projects in social housing, so therefore a set of uplifts will be introduced. For projects in rural areas grant funding will be subject to an 11% uplift and in remote areas a 22% uplift.
- Increasing the intervention rate to 60% for the installation of zero emission heating solutions. The existing 50% intervention rate for energy efficiency measures will be retained.
- Alongside this, some minor changes include a refreshed application form and guidance.
SFHA has been calling for many of these changes and is pleased that members’ feedback has been taken on board.
Alongside the refresh of the capital fund, the Scottish Government is relaunching the Social Housing Net Zero Development Fund to support development activities for the decarbonisation of heat within the social housing sector that can be completed by 31 March 2024. This £250,000 fund is designed to support a range of development activities including feasibility studies, research, stock analysis and pre capital support to create a pipeline of future capital projects.
Application packs for both elements of the Fund can now be requested from the Social Housing Team: netzerosocialhousing@gov.scot
The website will be updated in due course and will be available at the following link: Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund - call for funding applications.
Checkpoints
The fund is now open to receive applications with a checkpoint in October 2023, with an application deadline of 11 October 2023 . Funding will be prioritised for projects that can complete this financial year.
There will be a future checkpoint for applications in February 2024 for projects beginning next financial year 24/25. Applications should be submitted by 14 February 2024.
Applications should be submitted in the usual way to netzerosocialhousing@gov.scot