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We're nearly there! There's just 13 working days left before the Tuesday 31 March deadline for completion of on-site works.
As we head out of winter and towards astronomical spring (which begins on 20 March), it's a great opportunity to reflect on delivery to-date and celebrate the positive impacts that home energy efficiency upgrades will have had for residents during those colder months.
In this month's newsletter, we share important reminders and updates including:
- tomorrow's DMS data submission deadline (Friday 13 March)
- a reminder to lodge as you go on the TrustMark data warehouse
- upcoming changes to the monthly PCR submission deadline
- seasonal considerations for protected wildlife
- opportunities to showcase your project, especially those recently completed or near completion, by hosting us for a site visit
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Action required: lodge as you go - all measures must be lodged for project closure
TrustMark data warehouse lodgements are mandatory for all measures installed under SHDF Wave 2 and must be completed by Tuesday 31 March 2026 to enable successful closure of your project.
If you will not reach this deadline, please contact your SPOC or PSO as soon as possible.
This data remains outstanding across a significant number of DMS uploads and requires immediate attention.
Projects cannot close until all lodgements are complete. Delays in lodgement will delay closure. Do not wait until the end of delivery - submit lodgements as works are completed.
Video guides to assist with lodgements can be found via the TrustMark website and tips and advice for TrustMark photo evidence can be found on our website.
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Your monthly project change control (PCR) submission deadline will be brought forward
The deadline for submitting PCR requests, previously on the Friday of the first full working week of the month, will be brought forward.
From April, PCR requests will be due by 5pm on the first Wednesday of the month (two days earlier).
We're making this change as most projects should have reached the point of tools down at this stage.
If you have any questions, please speak with your single point of contact (SPOC) or project support officer (PSO).
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If you had any spend in 2025/26, evidence checks are underway
The delivery partner (DP), PwC, conducts regular financial reconciliation and evidence checks to ensure expected and confirmed project spend is aligned.
Please continue to proactively engage with the DP when evidence checks are required and prepare relevant documentation so this work can be completed with ease.
Important: year three (Y3) co‑funding reviews cannot begin until your year two (Y2) reconciliation has been fully completed and signed off.
You will only receive the Y3 co‑funding guidance once both of the following apply:
- your Y2 review is closed, and
- your project has reached 'tools down'
This requirement ensures reviews are not run in parallel and supports timely closure of Y2 checks.
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Fraud and error essentials for project closure
The slide deck from a recent webinar recording on fraud and error essentials for closure of your Wave 2 project has been uploaded to the fraud countermeasures webpage on the SHDF Hive.
The slides were presented during a session on Wednesday 4 February where experts from the delivery partner (DP) covered:
- key fraud and error countermeasures at scheme closure
- updating your fraud risk assessment for the final stage
- common fraud and error risks at closure
- reporting requirements for ongoing, legacy and significant cases
- tools and resources to support compliance
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Keeping in contact until your project can officially close
Please remember that your project has not officially closed or exited from the SHDF Wave 2 scheme until you have received written confirmation of this milestone from the department.
As detailed on the SHDF Hive closure checklist/guidance, the checklist does not yet reflect all activities required aligned with project closure and additional activities and resources may need to be added to this over time.
While we work with the department to develop a complete list, we kindly ask you to continue to engage with your PSO who is supporting you with the closure process.
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Seasonal awareness with wildlife
Spring brings increased wildlife activity, making it important to be aware of protected species during building and retrofit works.
In the UK, all wild birds, their nests and eggs are protected, and bats and their roosts are protected year-round.
Activity typically increases from March onwards and can impact project delivery if not identified early - particularly for projects approaching closure.
Recent examples highlight the importance of early action:
As projects near completion, remaining vigilant and reporting any signs of protected species early can help avoid unexpected delays and support a smooth path to your closure.
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Showcase your project by inviting us to a site visit
A site visit is an exciting opportunity to showcase your organisation's project, discuss challenges and opportunities and celebrate successful outcomes for your residents.
As you near closure and completion of your project, it's the perfect time to host us on site so you can show us first hand all your successes and achievements delivering through the scheme.
If you’re interested in hosting us, please complete the form below and one of our team will contact you to arrange next steps.
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Be a part of what's next – how to stay in touch
Whether you've reached tools down or if you're already navigating through the project closure process – we want to stay connected with you.
Keep receiving news, latest case studies, industry best practice, knowledge sharing opportunities and more by opting in to our Learning Community mailing list.
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Why am I receiving this email?
We’ve sent you this newsletter because the records we (or the delivery partner) hold – suggest you are a contact for a Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2 project.
If this is correct, you don’t need to do anything else and can stop reading.
However, if you believe this email has been sent in error, please contact us at communications.housing@salixfinance.co.uk
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