The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has published on-line guidance of how social landlords - RSLS, ALMOs and local authorities - can bid for part of the additional £84 million housing funding package announced in April's 2009 Budget for cavity wall insulation.

The Social Housing Energy Saving Programme (SHESP) aims to help social landlords insulate hard to treat cavity walls, which would have not normally have been filled under the Decent Homes programme, thereby making more homes much more energy efficient.

The funding made available seeks to deliver on a number of aims:

• An increase in the number of social homes that have cavity insulation
• An overall improvement in the SAP (energy) ratings
• A reduction in carbon emissions

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Bids should be submitted by 12 June, with the announcement of bidders who are successful in early July.

Commenting on SHESP, Sir Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive of the HCA, welcomed the initiative and said that the additional funding was an essential boost to maintaining existing social housing stock.

He said: "This funding is in addition to our existing Decent Homes programme and will empower social landlords to continue improving existing social homes and meet the needs of their communities.

"The HCA is committed to reducing energy emissions in homes, and the impact of this improvement programme will mean that social housing tenants will also have the opportunity to significantly reduce their energy bills."

(CD/JM)