Sustainability is at the heart of the refurbishment programme for Lancaster West, and a suite of KPIs has been developed to ensure that what gets measured is what gets done.
A whole-house fabric-first approach is being taken to retrofitting homes, alongside the development of a new low-carbon heat network for the estate, which could later be extended to provide zero-carbon heat to homes across the wider ward of Notting Dale.
LWNT have worked with experts including the GLA-led Retrofit Accelerator Programme to undertake feasibility for the mass retrofit and heat networks project. Additional funding has also been secured to deliver works, including through the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator, Green Homes Grant programme, and the EU’s MustBeZero programme.
LWNT and LWE residents are working together to jointly agree and finalise designs for the refurbishment. These designs will include the installation of triple glazed windows for every home and high-quality A1 non-combustible insulation in walls, roofs, and floors, while Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery units will be installed in homes to help regulate heat and improve ventilation. Alongside measures to improve the energy efficiency of homes, opportunities to improve biodiversity and increase the supply of low carbon heat are also being explored. Bio Solar green roofs with solar panels are currently planned for 3 blocks, with the potential for more.
The Notting Dale Heat Network will provide heat to homes on the Lancaster West estate and eventually the wider borough. Lancaster West will see the replacement of two existing and ageing gas-powered communal heating systems with a large-scale Air Source Heat Pump supplemented by a Thermal store, Solar PV and optimized using smart technology. In addition, we are investigating the possibility of sewer source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps to provide a mix of renewables. The core scheme will connect homes, a school, Leisure Centre, and other surrounding buildings and will expand to give economies of scale.
The borough’s first low-energy pilot home has been completed on the estate and is the first to generate its own green power and heat (through solar PV and an air source heat pump).
RBKC’s First Low Energy Home: Verity Close
Working towards becoming a carbon neutral estate, we have taken a ‘whole house’ approach to producing an energy efficient home in Verity Close. Working with ECD Architects, our aims were to improve the energy efficiency and significantly reduce energy bills for the resident.
To achieve this, many elements have been upgraded to improve the U values, airtightness, and thermal comfort of the home, with fire safety and energy efficiency as the key drivers. Upgrading the insulation to A1 and A2-rated non-combustible materials in the walls, floors and roof meant that we could create a warm and comfortable environment even at lower temperatures, to the highest safety. New doors have been installed both internally and externally to reduce heat loss and ensure we have the best sustainable and comfortable environment for the resident.
The opportunity to include a carefully installed airtightness layer meant that we had the ability to invest into many sustainable, low-energy products to improve the home. This included a Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery system (MVHR), An A+++ Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) and 16 solar panels with a battery system and energy manager for control. In addition, the windows have now been upgraded to triple glazed, and the installation of LED lights enhance the energy saving goals for the home. It not only created a modern interior but also improves the EPC rating of the property.
The opportunity to renovate the drive and garden area allowed LWNT to create an eco-friendly space that not only contains an electric car charging point but also a gutter less water butt system, hot bin composter and veg and herbs trugs to go fruit, veg and herbs hyper-locally. Both the internal and external environment work together to reflect one joint sustainable system.