Nearly 240 Londoners living in City of London Corporation-run housing estates will get free new low energy lights, insulated doors, heating controls, double glazing, and loft insulation, thanks to new green funding.

Residents in the William Blake Estate in Lambeth, and the Sumner Buildings on the Southwark Estate, will benefit from a £794,408 investment from the City Corporation and a £808,725 grant from the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy..

The environmental improvements are part of the City Corporation’s Climate Action Strategy, which commits the organisation to achieve net zero status by 2027.

The City Corporation is a social landlord, running 12 housing estates across the Square Mile and six London boroughs.

Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Community and Children’s Services Committee, Ruby Sayed, said:

“Most new homes are built with eco-friendly design in mind, but older properties are often the worst offenders when it comes to their carbon footprint.

“Climate change is the greatest threat we face. And here in the UK, heating and powering buildings makes up 40% of total energy use.

“Not only will these residents feel the benefits of the improvements, but they will save money on energy bills, whilst boosting the energy efficiency of their homes.”

The William Blake Estate’s oldest blocks were built between 1922 and 1981. The site is named after the famous poet and painter, William Blake, who lived there in the 18th Century. The estate has a mixture of architecture ranging from former mansion flats on Kennington Road, to larger, more modern houses, on its south side. It has a park with a children's​ play area.

The Sumner Buildings in Southwark are a cluster of mansion blocks on Bankside, near the River Thames. They were built by the City Corporation in the 1930s on land purchased in 1911.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

For media enquiries:

Andrew Buckingham, Media Officer (Public Services), City of London Corporation

T: 07795 333060 / E: andrew.buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk