The upgrades have been made possible by the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme’s Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund which earlier awarded Osprey £340,000 to help replace electric storage heaters in 61 properties with more sustainable air source heat pumps.

Properties in Burghead, Garmouth, Keith, and Aberchirder are now benefitting from heat pumps, together representing around 20% of Osprey’s ‘off-gas’ homes.

That project, begun in 2021, is complete, and the social landlord is now following up with the insulation programme. A total of 309 properties will benefit, with 300 getting loft insulation top-ups and nine — all of them 1.5-storey — benefitting from ‘room in roof’ insulation which also includes sloping walls.

Osprey — which currently owns and manages more than 1,800 properties across Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, and Moray — is working with contractor Everwarm to complete the project, which is scheduled for completion this Autumn.

Osprey Sustainability Officer Jane McWhirr said: “I’m really pleased we were successful in getting this project funded.

“These measures will greatly improve the living experience for tenants in these properties, with enhanced warmth and energy efficiency.

“Reducing energy consumption in our homes is a major priority for Osprey, and upgrading insulation improves the fabric of the building, allows better heat retention, and helps reduce the risk of damp and mould.”

Ms McWhirr said the properties — in Elgin, Dufftown, Keith, Buckie, Findochty, Portgordon, Turriff, Fraserburgh, and Stonehaven — were chosen for their age and suitability and added: “Taking a fabric-first approach means we’re prioritising work like this that will decrease the energy demand of our homes.”