Supporting Aston Group’s Retrofit Success in Waltham Forest | SHDF Case Study

As part of the first wave of SHDF, building services company, Aston Group, undertook a pioneering project to retrofit a 1950s block of apartments in Waltham Forest, catering to residents in need of housing support.

Partnering with ECO Surv’s Retrofit Services, we embarked on this transformative journey to elevate living standards and improve energy efficiency through the strategic implementation of retrofit solutions, backed by SHDF Wave 1 funding. Read the SHDF Case Study below…

Project Overview:

• Location: Waltham Forest, London
• Number of Flats: 40
• Commencement: Early 2022
• Phase 1 Completion: December 2023

Project Aims:

• Retrofit the apartment block, to improve living conditions for council residents and those awaiting housing placement.
• Enhance energy efficiency and achieve sustainability goals, to align with SHDF Wave 1 funding aims.

Project Phases:

• Phase 1 (With ECO Surv Support): Focused on External Wall Insulation (EWI), window replacements, and flat roof enhancements.
• Phase 2: Encompassed additional upgrades such as Air Source Heat Pump and Solar PV installations, although not funded under SHDF.

To support with the project, we offered key services:

• Retrofit Assessments: Using our assessor network, we conducted meticulous pre-inspection reports, evaluating the existing energy efficiency and the building’s condition and ventilation.
• Retrofit Software: Harnessing the ECO Surv platform, all mandatory forms were processed through our PAS compliant workflow management tool.
• Retrofit Coordination: Our in-house coordination expertise played a pivotal role in planning and implementing a full turnkey retrofit solution as well as ensuring adherence to quality standards and regulatory requirements throughout the project.
• Resident Engagement: Proactive in community outreach, ECO Surv facilitated transparent communication with residents through engagement letters, fostering a sense of inclusion and cooperation from the offset.
• Post-Installation Checks: After installation, we harnessed on-site inspections of the final installed measures allowing for sign-off to go-ahead with the final assessment of the post-EPCs.
• TrustMark Lodgement: After our post checks, we lodged all phase 1 post-EPCs through our platform straight into the TrustMark data warehouse.

Achievements: 

In collaboration with ECO Surv’s Retrofit Services, Aston Group completed a community-centric retrofit programme and is one of only a handful of successfully completed SHDF Wave 1 projects.  

There were a lot of lessons learnt along the way, as with embarking on a new funding scheme definitely brings it’s own challenges.  

But through dedicated teamwork, strategic execution, and adapting to learnings as we went, together we’ve not only transformed these living spaces but also set a precedent for sustainable retrofitting in Waltham Forest.  

Residents can feel the impact of the retrofit installations, with warmer homes and reduced energy usage – even by the end of phase 1 completion. 

In terms of numbers, the impact of the EPC uplift in phase 1 is evident. Before the SHDF project started, the average pre-SAP score across the flats, based on full SAP assessments, was D64. After completing phase 1, the average post-EPC score rose to C77, demonstrating a significant improvement of an entire EPC band. 

This project stands as a testament to the power of collaborative innovation in shaping retrofit projects for councils and local authorities using government-funded energy efficiency schemes, to ultimately reach Net Zero 2050 targets. 

Southfield Court before:

Southfield Court after: 

For the full project success story, head to the Waltham Forest Council website to find out how the continuation of phase 2 managed to bring Southfield Court flats up to an average EPC B rating after all works were completed – Southfield Court project completed in collaboration with Aston Group.