Households in Bonnyrigg are set to benefit from warmer homes after Changeworks helped Midlothian Council to secure £695,000 from the Scottish Government’s Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund.
The funding will contribute towards a £1.2 million retrofit project covering 50 council-owned homes in Cameron Crescent, Bonnyrigg.
Changeworks, an Edinburgh-based social enterprise, worked closely with Midlothian to develop the successful funding bid and will now continue that partnership by supporting the delivery of the project.
The Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund supports the retrofit of existing social housing in Scotland, providing funding for projects involving clean heating systems and fabric-first energy efficiency improvements.
The latest award builds on a long-standing relationship between Changeworks and Midlothian Council to improve the energy efficiency of homes across the region.
Changeworks previously worked with Midlothian to create an actionable retrofit delivery plan for its housing stock. This mapped out retrofit projects over the long term and was designed to help Midlothian Council identify and prepare suitable projects for funding opportunities, including the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund.
In 2025, Changeworks also supported Midlothian to secure over £1million through the fund, supporting the installation of air source heat pumps, solar panels and battery storage to 75 council homes. The organisation was also able to leverage a further £184,000 of Area Based Scheme funding, another Government scheme, to install measures to 22 privately owned homes in Rosewell.
Jill Craig, Head of Retrofit Delivery at Changeworks, said: “Congratulations to Midlothian Council on securing this funding. It’s fantastic to see another ambitious retrofit project moving forward, and we’re proud to have supported the council with its successful application.
“We’re now looking forward to helping turn those plans into action in Cameron Crescent. Ultimately, this investment is about making a real difference to people’s everyday lives by improving their homes and creating warmer, more energy efficient places to live.”
Andrew Souter, Programme Manager for Net Zero Infrastructure at Midlothian Council, said: “We’re delighted to secure this investment for homes in Cameron Crescent. The funding will allow us to move forward with another important retrofit project, improving 50 homes and helping us continue our work to create warmer, more energy efficient housing for our tenants.”
The project comes as Midlothian Council continues to take a coordinated approach to improving its housing stock and tackling fuel poverty. In February, the council joined Changeworks and local housing providers to establish the Midlothian Retrofit Partnership Forum, bringing organisations together to coordinate activity, share expertise and unlock further opportunities for retrofit investment.
Changeworks supports local authorities and housing associations throughout the retrofit journey, including housing stock analysis, funding applications, quality assurance and project delivery.