Achieving EPC Rating A: From Prospect to Reality for Leeds

Despite another tough year of missed housebuilding targets and lower than expected retrofit rollout, a Leeds housing estate has set a new exciting benchmark and risen to the top of the UK’s leaderboard in energy efficiency ratings. Delivering a successful retrofit programme with a £9m budget, Holtdale estate in Holt Park, Leeds, is now the toprated area in the UK for energy efficiency. A total of 190 homes were refurbished under the programme, with a whole range of technologies used to reduce carbon emissions and, more importantly for residents, slashed their bills.

Propelling housing stock to EPC Rating A is a new benchmark for the region

Taking a whole-house approach to retrofit is one of the core factors in the success of the program, with other associations and authorities looking to take the framework used and implement it across their housing stock.

The flats that received a whole house retrofit saw the EPC rating skyrocket to Band A, joining a mere 0.2% of homes in England. In a year of unfortunate news in the housing sector, these developments are welcomed by all in the sector.

Saving money is a key selling point for the private sector to retrofit

The project was funded by Leeds City Council, which owns 150 of the flats, and a £4.18m grant from the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), echoing the importance of public sector funding for the upgrades of homes, especially in the social housing sector.

According to energy and regeneration specialist Equans, residents of the properties can expect their bills to be cut by up to 70% – saving them as much as £1,600 per year. With financial savings the biggest incentive for greener housing stock in the private sector, there are hopes that private landlords and homeowners will see the cost savings and implement a whole house retrofit to their stock and help play their part in meeting ambitious net zero targets.

No one solution for decarbonisation; a whole-house approach is integral

Efficiency measures implemented in Leeds included the installation of new windows, doors and insulation alongside ‘warm roofs’ to keep the homes warmer for longer and reduce the energy needed to heat them.

Additionally, the scheme also replaced traditional heating methods with air source heat pumps controlled by smart thermostats. For those living on the top floors of the flats, they received new solar panels to enable residents to generate their own electricity.

James Rogers, Director of Communities, Housing and Environment at Leeds City Council, said: “It is fantastic news that we have completed this project, which supports our ambition to deliver a range of significant environmental improvements for people living in 190 flats on the Holtdale estate.

“This will not only help us reduce carbon emissions and make the 190 homes on the Holtdale estate more energy-efficient, but it will also play a huge role in helping to cut energy costs for people in these homes by up to 70%. We know that, unfortunately, too many people suffer from fuel poverty in Leeds, and it works like this that will help cut those costs and make a real positive impact on people’s lives.”

Steve Batty, Director of Sustainability at Equans, added: “This project has been vital in demonstrating what can be done to decarbonise the UK’s housing stock. It has really led the way when it comes to meeting the government’s goals to upgrade fuel-poor, inefficient homes.