Liverpool-based Riverside launches a £72 million programme to upgrade over 3,000 social homes across England, aiming for improved energy efficiency, lower bills, and climate impact reduction, backed by government funding and expert contractors.
Liverpool-based housing group Riverside has launched an ambitious £72 million retrofit programme to enhance the energy efficiency of more than 3,000 homes across multiple locations, including Liverpool, Halton, Carlisle, the Langley estate in Middleton, and Enfield in London. The initiative is co-funded by a £36 million grant from the UK Government’s Warm Homes Social Housing Fund (Wave 3), which Riverside is matching with its own investment. The comprehensive three-year project aims to raise the homes’ Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings to Band C, delivering crucial improvements such as cavity and external wall insulation, solar panel installations, roof alterations, new double glazing, and doors. Work is scheduled to begin in early October, with resident open days planned to provide information and foster community engagement.
This latest phase builds on Riverside’s earlier retrofit success under the Wave 2.1 programme, which upgraded over 1,000 homes across the same regions with £26 million in funding. WPS, part of The Wates Group and the contractor for the southern regions in the previous programme, has been appointed once again to manage delivery, drawing on its extensive experience in retrofitting social housing. The partnership highlights Riverside’s commitment to sustainability and its role as a Strategic Partner of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Ian Gregg, Riverside’s Chief Property Officer, emphasised the transformative potential of the programme, stating it will help thousands of households become warmer, more comfortable, and more affordable to live in by reducing energy bills and tackling fuel poverty.
The retrofit programme aligns with broader government ambitions detailed in the Warm Homes Social Housing Fund initiative, which has allocated £1.29 billion to raise the energy efficiency of social housing across England by 2030. The fund prioritises upgrading properties currently below EPC Band C to this standard, aiming to address climate change, improve tenant well-being, reduce carbon emissions, and stimulate local green job creation. Such efforts are crucial in combating fuel poverty, which impacts millions of households nationally, by making homes more energy efficient and affordable to heat.
WPS, with a significant portfolio in social housing retrofit, brings considerable expertise to Riverside’s project. The company has been involved in multiple retrofit schemes funded through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), including a £4.3 million contract retrofitting nearly 200 homes for The Hyde Group and a recent agreement to upgrade 410 homes for Orbit housing. These projects often incorporate a range of measures from insulation to renewable energy installations like solar photovoltaic panels and air source heat pumps, supporting government targets for all social housing to reach EPC Band C by 2030. WPS’s Executive Managing Director, David Morgan, highlighted the dual benefits of retrofitting, noting that warmer homes that cost less to heat contribute to better health and economic outcomes for residents, while also advancing the journey towards net-zero carbon emissions.
The retrofit programme additionally fosters local employment opportunities and community engagement, key aspects of Riverside’s mission to combine sustainability with social impact. The collaborative approach, including resident engagement days, ensures transparency and tenant involvement, making the initiative as much about improving quality of life as about environmental responsibility. Such extensive retrofit schemes represent a growing trend in the UK social housing sector, where partnerships between housing providers and specialist contractors like WPS are central to meeting both national climate goals and social equity demands.
Overall, the Riverside and WPS initiative exemplifies how substantial government investment, matched by committed housing providers, can generate wide-ranging benefits — from lowering fuel bills and improving living conditions to supporting the green economy and driving national decarbonisation targets. With retrofit works scheduled from late 2024 to 2027, this programme forms a pivotal part of the UK’s strategy to ensure social housing stock is fit for a sustainable future.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative is recent, published on 19 September 2025. The £72 million retrofit programme is a new initiative by Riverside, with work scheduled to begin in early October 2025. This is the first known announcement of this specific programme. However, Riverside has previously undertaken similar projects, such as a £26 million retrofit programme completed in 2024. ([riverside.org.uk](https://www.riverside.org.uk/riverside-set-to-transform-more-than-1000-homes-through-26m-decarbonisation-project/?utm_source=openai)) The current programme builds upon that success, indicating a continuation of their retrofit efforts. The report includes updated data and specific details about the new programme, justifying a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative is not flagged as recycled content. The inclusion of updated data alongside previous material is noted, but the update justifies a higher freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Ian Gregg, Riverside’s Chief Property Officer, and David Morgan, Executive Managing Director at WPS, are unique to this report. No identical quotes were found in earlier material, indicating original or exclusive content. The wording of the quotes matches the report exactly, with no variations found.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from TheBusinessDesk.com, a regional business news outlet. While it is a reputable source within its region, it may not have the same level of recognition as national outlets like the BBC or Reuters. The report is also supported by information from Riverside’s official website, adding credibility. ([riverside.org.uk](https://www.riverside.org.uk/over-3000-homes-to-benefit-from-energy-efficiency-upgrades/?utm_source=openai)) The entities mentioned, including Riverside and WPS, are verifiable and have a public presence.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the £72 million retrofit programme are plausible and align with Riverside’s previous initiatives. The programme aims to improve energy efficiency in over 3,000 homes across multiple locations, which is consistent with Riverside’s past projects. The timeline for work to begin in early October 2025 is reasonable. The report includes specific details about the programme, such as the areas involved and the measures to be implemented, supporting its plausibility. The language and tone are consistent with official corporate communications.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative presents a recent and original announcement of Riverside’s £72 million retrofit programme, supported by credible sources and specific details. The quotes are unique, and the information aligns with Riverside’s known initiatives, indicating a high level of reliability and plausibility.
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