SBS teams are reporting good progress on the Wychavon District Council Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Demonstrator scheme – a project that involves delivering multiple energy efficiency measures to 34 low-rise properties.
Part of the project focuses upon a series of bungalows in Uttoxeter, managed by the social housing provider Trent & Dove. Another element entails improvements to a number of flats in Birmingham, owned by the Trident Group housing association. The scheme as a whole is due to continue until the summer.
Financed as a demonstrator scheme under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, the project entails a raft of decarbonisation measures. Examples include the installation of:
- Solid wall insulation – internal and external
- Replacement doors and windows
- Loft insulation
- Positive input ventilation
- Energy efficient lighting
All works are being delivered in accordance with the requirements of PAS 2030:2019/PAS 2035:2019. This includes property-by-property assessments and design adaptations.
Recognising our experience of delivering previous PAS-compliant schemes, the client asked us to select Retrofit Assessors and Retrofit Designer from our established network of certificated Retrofit Providers. The ongoing work therefore includes coordinating efforts with the various independent Retrofit Designers, Assessors and Coordinators chosen to support the project.
One of these providers is Ashley Crawford, Retrofit Coordinator from CC Ltd, who commented:
“Working with Sustainable has been a pleasure. I appreciated the teams’ openness, honesty and pragmatism for ‘getting the job done’ whilst maintaining a high standard. I have worked on multiple SHDF and LAD schemes and found the Sustainable team exceeded others in experience, knowledge, and professionalism.
“The management is calm and concise, and their vetting of subcontractors is thorough. For example, the Retrofit Designer understood the dynamics of PAS2030 and PAS2035 and followed my instruction as Retrofit Coordinator to complete a high standard of designs, modelling and detailing. This allowed us to effectively communicate to the Retrofit Installers and enable mobilisation to the site in a shorter timescale than other projects.”
SBS is acting as principal contractor for the installation of the solid wall insulation systems; its operatives are delivering the work directly. The external wall insulation system itself is designed and supplied by PermaRock Products Limited, which is also proving valuable technical support.
Other measures are being installed by PAS/MCS-certificated specialists from SBS’s list of approved supply chain partners. Associated works include adaptations and enabling works, asbestos removal and the insulation of loft hatches.