Caerau Wall Insulation Scheme
The Caerau Wall Insulation Scheme aims to tackle inadequate internal and external wall insulation work carried out on specific homes in Caerau, in Bridgend County Borough, more than a decade ago.
The project will provide homes affected by the original schemes with a long-term, sustainable, energy efficiency solution.
Background
During 2012 to 2013, many residents in the Caerau area took part in an energy efficiency scheme which sought to provide better internal and external wall insulation for homes, to cut down on carbon emissions, and lower household fuel and energy bills.
This work was carried out under two schemes - the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP), which was sponsored by UK Government and used funding from main energy suppliers, and Arbed1, which was both sponsored and part-funded by Welsh Government.
Around 79 homes received external or internal wall insulation work under CESP, and 25 under the Arbed scheme.
While Bridgend County Borough Council was not involved in any of the work under the CESP scheme, we appointed contractors and oversaw funding for the Arbed initiative.
Unfortunately, in the years since the energy efficiency work was completed, some of the internal and external wall insulation carried out under both the CESP and Arbed schemes has failed. This project aims to address this situation. Over the last few years, Bridgend County Borough Council and Welsh Government have been working closely together to develop a new scheme capable of rectifying the faulty wall insulation.
The project is designed, subject to home surveys and consent of the homeowners, to remove faulty insulation from affected properties, dry out the wall space, and (where appropriate) install new wall insulation. Works will be installed to current higher standards of quality (where possible, following PAS: 2035 standards).
Current situation
Over the last few years, Bridgend County Borough Council and Welsh Government have been working closely together to develop a new scheme capable of rectifying the faulty wall insulation issue.
This solution is aimed not just at properties where the council provided funding under Arbed, but also includes homes where work was carried out under CESP.
Around 79 homes received external or internal wall insulation work under CESP, and 25 under Arbed.
The council is preparing to launch this project which, subject to home surveys and consent of the homeowner. Under the scope of the work, this project will remove faulty internal and external wall insulation from affected properties, dry out the wall space, install all-new, high-quality, eco-friendly wall insulation, and restore the same energy efficient benefits that were originally promised to householders back in 2012-2013.
Next steps
The council has appointed Warmworks to provide the Community Liaison Support Service that will answer resident’s queries and keep the community informed on the scheme’s progress.
Residents who have received a letter from the council can register their interest in joining the scheme by visiting the following website: www.warmworks.co.uk/caerau
Warmworks will then contact residents who have registered their interest in the scheme to advise them of the schedule of work to be undertaken to replace their wall insulation.
Residents who are eligible will, in the first instance, have an opportunity to have their home surveyed with a view to determining what work is required. Having a survey will not commit anyone to having any further work done but will inform homeowners of the best solution for their homes.
Warmworks are also holding regular drop-in sessions in Caerau, for you to speak to someone about the process.
You don’t need to attend a drop-in session to register for the scheme but please call in to one if you have any questions or just want to meet some of the team that will be delivering the scheme over a cup of tea and a biscuit.
Registration to take part will be open until 30 September 2023 so you are encouraged to sign up as soon as you can.
If you have a query about the scheme, please call: 02920 025 890