In recognition of our project to successfully retrofit 429 pre-war solid wall homes in Northampton, we have been shortlisted for two national awards.
The NPH ‘Whole House Retrofit Programme’, has been shortlisted as the ‘Most Innovative Retrofit/Refurbishment Scheme’ at the Housing Digital Innovation Awards 2024 and the ‘Best Net Zero Carbon Initiative’ at the NHMF Conference Awards 2024. NPH are leading the way in whole house retrofit - being one of only a handful of social housing providers that have successfully secured funding from all three waves of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).
The retrofit approach chosen by our Asset Management Team, who are delivering the programme, has been ‘fabric first’. This means focusing on minimising heat loss in the first instance before utilising heating technology. This approach has a more impactful short-term result for resident comfort whilst working towards a net zero carbon housing stock.
The project has transformed what were some of the least energy efficient homes by reducing space heating demand by up to 70%, significantly reducing the risk of fuel poverty in these households. These homes were often expensive to heat and energy inefficient – with an EPC rating of band D or below - due to the way they were built. Residents have reported that ‘since insulation, once the house is heated, it stays warmer longer’.
The current wave of the project, which is due for completion in Spring 2024, has installed a range of energy efficiency measures into homes in the Abington, St James, Kingsthorpe, Kingsthorpe Hollow, and Kingsley areas of the town. The selected properties, which were all built in the 1920s and 1930s, have seen improvements such as external wall insulation, loft insulation top-up, new windows and doors, and mechanical ventilation.
Winston Williams, NPH’s Director of Asset Management, is delighted with the recognition and said:
“This project has aimed to make homes better for the people who live in them, improving energy efficiency and reducing the risk of fuel poverty. It’s a challenging process for all involved, particularly for the residents living through the retrofit process, so we’re extremely grateful for the patience shown by our residents as we make these important improvements.
“Amongst all the challenges and learning opportunities, the project team have achieved some fantastic outcomes and being shortlisted for two national awards demonstrates NPH’s continued sector leading application of fabric first deep retrofit, with support from West Northamptonshire Council and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.”
In March this year, we announced we were successful in another application to the SHDF to update a further 101 council-owned homes. Works are expected to commence in early 2024.