Social housing regeneration specialist Forrest has secured an environmental framework with Golden Gates Housing Trust worth £1.6 million.
The contract will ensure that 252 properties across the North West will be fitted with solar thermal panel installations, which capture heat from the sun to provide hot water.
Forrest’s environmental services division, Forrest Green, is carrying out the installations. Work is currently under way on the second phase following the successful completion of the first phase in December 2012.
The initial phase was wholly-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, a financial project which aimed to improve resource efficiency in businesses and communities.
Forrest Green has delivered a number of renewable initiatives to Golden Gates Housing Trust, having previously installed solar photovoltaic panels to more than 3,000 homes in its property portfolio.
Neil Carroll, Forrest Green’s carbon reduction manager, said: “Although a relatively new technology, solar thermal installations are fast becoming an important environmental work stream as more housing providers look to introduce this technology as part of their carbon management plans.
“At Forrest, our specialist environmental team has been specifically established to provide tailored carbon abatement solutions, to help our clients reduce the energy bills and running costs and improve the living conditions for their tenants.”