More than 80 Pembrokeshire residents have had a boost to the sustainability of their homes thanks to the completion of a housing association’s first optimised retrofit programme.
A total of 25 properties in Park Avenue, Kilgetty, have benefitted from a range of improvements designed to drive decarbonisation and improve the living environment.
The project, funded by the Welsh Government’s Optimised Retrofit Programme, is the first to be completed as part of a three-year programme which will see housing associatjon ateb implement retrofit works on 100 properties throughout Pembrokeshire and more than 1,000 more properties surveyed to receive targeted energy pathways.
Since January, all 25 houses in Park Avenue have received external wall insulation to make the homes more thermally efficient. Environmental sensors have also been installed within each home to measure temperature, humidity, dew point and CO2. The data gathered will help tenants and owners to adjust their usage with the ultimate aims of creating efficiencies, saving money and improving the overall environment of the home.
Nick Hampshire, Chief Executive of ateb, said:
“We’re thrilled to be completing the first phase of the Optimised Retrofit Programme at Park Avenue. The residents have been really supportive and are now seeing the benefits of the improvements that we have made. The data that the sensors are providing are enabling us to help customers address and prevent any damp or mould issues or establish where they may be paying too much for their energy. Our Home Energy Officer has been liaising directly with residents to discuss their specific needs and make changes where required.
“Along with a range of partners we are proud to deliver this three-year programme which will future-proof our housing stock and ensure that we are compliant with the Welsh Housing Quality Standard by guaranteeing a SAP rating of 75 or more in all of the properties we manage.”
The project is being delivered by main contractor Cardiff-based LCB Construction and Wetherby Building Systems. The sensors are being installed by iOPT.
Chris Boyle, a resident of Park Avenue, said:
“I have been thoroughly impressed with the level of customer engagement both leading up to and throughout the installation of the sensors and external wall insulation. From the initial engagement to the completion of the work, ateb have gone above and beyond to ensure our needs were met and our questions answered promptly. My home looks fantastic with its new exterior and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. It’s great to know that my home environment is being improved and that as a street our homes are more sustainable and environmentally-friendly.”
The next phase of work has already started in Vineyard Vale, Saundersfoot, where similar improvement work will take place. In year two of the project properties in Garfield Gardens in Narberth and Preseli Court in Pembroke Dock will benefit from external wall insulation, solar panels and battery storage. Eight properties in Harvard Close in Haverfordwest will have even more enhancements including Sunamp hot water storage, Air Source heat pumps and in intelligent heating control system in their homes thanks to additional Swansea Bay City Deal funding under the Homes as Power Stations funding.
Developments to receive the work have been selected based on the scale of the impact that these changes will have.
