Member visit to tower block retrofit project

A group of Northern Housing Consortium members visited Heaton Park Court, a 12-storey tower block in Newcastle upon Tyne currently managed by Your Homes Newcastle, which is undergoing significant energy efficiency upgrades.

NHC members were also joined by RE:GEN, a North East-based contractor delivering the retrofit works, who have extensive experience in delivering similar schemes.

Members heard about the difficulties in renovating a 1960s tower block and the importance of effective engagement and communication with residents living in the building. The need to remain agile was highlighted, so if issues emerge, plans can be amended without negatively impacting the final delivery.

On this scheme it became apparent that the existing electricity supply would be insufficient to power the new electrical appliances and heating systems. This led to changes to plans and the installation of an expanded electricity supply in partnership with the Distribution Network Operator, Northern Powergrid, which has ensured the successful delivery of the project.

The tower block, originally built in the 1960s, includes 72 individual flats. Each flat is receiving a new KERS energy recovery air-source heat pump and new storage heating systems as part of a comprehensive renovation. The exterior of the block is receiving extensive insulation improvements and 312 new energy efficient windows which will reduce heat loss and improve thermal comfort.

Once the work is completed, the block will no longer use any gas, all the resident’s heating and living requirements will be powered by electricity. The heat demand for some refurbished flats will be as low as 15 kilowatt hours per metre square per year.  This compares well with the minimum level set out by government of 90 kilowatt hours for work completed under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

RE:GEN will provide 20 work experience placements and 100 apprenticeship weeks as part of the scheme, supporting the development of skilled labour needed for retrofit schemes in the North East.

The scheme costs £4.1 million and is being co-funded by Newcastle City Council and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

This work is part of Newcastle City Council’s wider goal to improve the energy efficiency of the city’s homes and deliver their Net Zero Newcastle 2030 Action Plan. It showcases how existing buildings can be modernised for improved energy performance, reducing bills for residents and carbon emissions.

You can read more about the scheme here.