A 13-point plan has been approved to cut carbon emissions in homes across the city as part of its initiative to hit net zero emissions by 2030.

The plan was presented to Sheffield City Council by Nathan Robinson, the council’s housing decarbonisation manager.

It set out a roadmap to upgrade both council owned and private sector housing stock. The central aim to ensure all council homes achieve an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2030.

In alignment with the councils pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 85% leading by example as a net zero organisation.

Mr Robinson said: “The plan is ambitious in terms of what we are aiming to achieve but against that it is deliverable.

“The report sets out thirteen distinctive work packages that cut across both council housing and private sector homes across the city.”

Of the 13 packages, eight focus specifically on council housing, while the remaining five target private homes or apply across all tenures. The strategy aims not only to reduce carbon emissions, but also to tackle fuel poverty and make homes more affordable through transferring to renewable energy sources.

“Obviously as a key area of retrofit it is not just about decarbonising homes but fundamentally this is intertwined in tackling the seriousness of fuel poverty in the city and reducing bills for people in homes,” Mr Robinson added.

The plans were presented to Sheffield City Council’s Housing Policy Committee on 24 April.

Three major projects, supported by government funding, are already under way:

£3.4 million is being used to upgrade around 221 poorly insulated private sector homes occupied by low-income families, improving energy efficiency and comfort.

A second £3.4 million fund is being used to make climate conscious improvements to 1,478 council homes. Including insulation, the installation of air source heat pumps, and potentially solar PV panels to replace fossil fuel-based systems.

Multiple projects are also being trialled such as, exploring technologies such as solar PV, ground source heat pumps, infra-red heating, and smart monitoring systems.

The council’s housing policy committee has welcomed the plan, which is seen as an essential step toward meeting Sheffield’s climate and social equity goals.