This article has been provided by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero trusted support partner, Turner & Townsend who are helping Local Authorities through the HUG 2 process, offering a plethora of informative resources on the Home Upgrade Hub, as well as dedicated outreach services to Local Authorities.

Since its launch in September last year, Local Authorities all over England have been submitting applications to the Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG 2).

To recap, HUG 2 is a £700m grant funding scheme that has been set up by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to help councils provide energy efficiency upgrades and clean heating systems to low-income households.

The scheme targets the worst performing (EPC band D-G) and homes without mains gas central heating in England.

What is the Delivery Assurance Check (DAC)?

With the window for new outline applications now closed, the next step for successful Local Authorities will be proceeding to the next stage of the process – known as the Delivery Assurance Check (DAC).

The DAC is essentially a check point for Local Authorities to demonstrate they are set up to procure and resource their programmes as detailed in their outline applications, as well as to provide an update on progress before DESNZ releases further funds.

The DAC meeting takes the form of a friendly virtual conversation with DESNZ via Teams, which can be booked online from 1 April 2023. It's focus is to work with organisations and set teams up for successful retrofit mobilisation and delivery, rather than acting as any kind of barrier.

Further guidance published by DESNZ to support Local Authorities as they prepare for the Delivery Assurance Check can be found via gov.uk, including the DAC form and delivery FAQs.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that any Local Authorities currently delivering programmes under the HUG 1 scheme do not need to wait to complete these projects before sitting their HUG 2 DAC, although HUG 1 and HUG 2 projects should not be delivered concurrently.

What support is available?

The Home Upgrade Hub is a fully funded support service that provides a range of resources developed by housing retrofit and grant application experts to help Local Authorities in England secure funding from the HUG 2 scheme.

Its team is continuing to offer lots of free materials and guidance to help councils become DAC ready and begin setting retrofit programmes up for success. This includes recent podcasts and on-demand masterclasses which outline the requirements that Local Authorities need to meet, with insights on what to expect and tips for progressing through DAC.

What should I do next?

If you’ve submitted your HUG 2 application and have any questions or concerns heading into DAC, you can email [email protected] where a dedicated team is ready to help.

To receive the latest news, top tips and invitations to events straight to your inbox, sign up to the Home Upgrade Hub newsletter for free here and follow the latest updates on LinkedIn.