Hundreds of families across the North West are benefiting from more energy-efficient homes as our major multi-million-pound upgrade programme continues to make strong progress.
The £22m retrofit project is being delivered in partnership Jigsaw Homes and our RE:GEN North West team. Beginning in May 2025, it’s already seen 748 homes upgraded across Chorley and Tameside.
The project was funded in part by the government’s Warmer Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) Wave 3 with additional funding from Jigsaw Homes and is focused on tackling fuel poverty by making sure homes are safe and warmer through energy upgrades.
As part of the ongoing work, loft insulation has been fitted in 524 homes, 446 homes received heating controls and 309 have received new doors and windows. Customers in 182 homes have also benefited from solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to their roofs and 70 homes have received cavity wall installation.
Customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with 358 responding to satisfaction surveys and 98% reporting that they are either very satisfied or satisfied with the service they received.
These improvements have already helped to make a substantial difference to customer’s lives.
Vivienne Castilles has lived in her bungalow on the Ryefield estate in Chorley for the past seven years. Work began at her home in February 2026 to install solar panels, loft insulation, new windows and doors, improved ventilation fans in the kitchen and bathroom, and additional heating enhancements in the bathroom.
She said: “I noticed the benefits straight away. I put the washer on and the meter didn’t move – that was brilliant. The difference has been massive already. The house feels much warmer, and I’ve already started saving money.”
Vivienne has already received around £200 back from her solar panels and has been making the most of the free electricity during the summer months by running appliances such as her washing machine.
“I think when winter comes around again, I’ll really notice just how much of a difference it’s made. If anyone is offered upgrades like this, they should absolutely say yes.”
The project has also helped to create a positive social impact in the surrounding areas. RE:GEN teamed up with local charity Chorley Help the Homeless and donated to their food bank.
Peter Jackson, Managing Director of RE:GEN North West, said: “We’re incredibly proud of what our partnership with Jigsaw has achieved so far. Our purpose is simple – to enhance lives through safe, sustainable social housing regeneration – and this project is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when we work together with a shared ambition.
“Our team has worked closely with colleagues at Jigsaw and, importantly, with the communities we’ve been working in to deliver improvements that make a real difference to people’s homes and everyday lives. Seeing such high levels of customer satisfaction reflects that collaborative approach and the dedication of everyone involved.
“As work continues in new communities across the North West, we’re looking forward to building on this success and continuing to deliver warmer, more energy-efficient homes for Jigsaw customers.”
Gary Heaton, Operations Director of Asset Management at Jigsaw Homes Group, said:
“Our priority is to ensure our residents live in warm, safe homes that are fit for a sustainable future so it’s fantastic to see the real impact this programme is already having.
“At a time when many are facing rising living costs, this project is more important than ever, and we’re pleased to be delivering meaningful, long-term benefits for the people and communities we serve.
“We are proud of the progress made so far and remain committed to continuing this work.”
With further work planned in Tameside, Jigsaw’s partnership with RE:GEN North West continues to play a key role in delivering warmer, more energy-efficient homes, helping residents stay safe, comfortable and better equipped to manage rising energy costs.
