Warmer homes and cheaper energy bills for residents in Barnes
Ambitious retrofit scheme aims to upgrade 191 homes in south west London
Located south of the Thames in the borough of Richmond, the London district of Barnes is home to more than 10,000 people.
Housing provider RHP Group owns and manages properties in the area on behalf of the local council.
A top priority for the group is ensuring that residents have access to safe and secure housing.
However, a large proportion of the housing stock held by RHP in Barnes are known as ‘boot houses’. These were constructed quickly to satisfy housing demand after the war and don’t meet modern standards.
To address this, the group has started a programme of work to upgrade around 3,000 homes over the next five years.
Inaugural to this programme is the upgrades of 191 ‘boot houses’ across the district, bringing them up to current standards to ensure that they’re best fit for the residents that call them home.
We joined stakeholders from RHP Group, Richmond upon Thames Council, contractor Mulalley and FFT to hear about the vision of the inaugural project and see works in progress at the first 15 homes where upgrades are scheduled to complete by the end of March.
Sarah Thomas, RHP Group chief executive, said: “As a socially responsible housing provider, we are committed to making our homes more sustainable.
“This project is part of a wider programme aimed at improving energy efficiency, reducing fuel costs for residents, and protecting the planet.
“We’re excited to see the impact it will have on our customers and their homes.”
We’re excited to see the impact it will have on our customers and their homes.
To support the work in Barnes, RHP Group was awarded £2.62 million through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.2. Funding is delivered on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Our teams at Salix act as delivery agent for this scheme, working closely with our delivery partner consortium led by PwC.
During the visit, contractor Mulalley presented the project plan, demonstrating what work needs to be done to the homes and the phased approach to the upgrades through to March 2026.
The group then went for a walking tour of the area to see local homes where works are in progress, with the first phase of 15 homes expected to complete by the end of March.
Measures being installed on the homes include external wall insulation, new roofing, double glazing and solar panels. Once complete, they should support residents with warmer, more comfortable living environments and lower energy bills.
Watch our short video with retrofit coordinator Liam as we discuss the approach and ambitions of project delivery.
Mulalley also discussed its community engagement programme which it attributes as a key pillar to project success.
The programme includes a regular schedule of ‘meet the contractor’ events at the local community centre where residents can drop in and ask questions about the project and work being completed.
This came at praise from local councillors who were happy to see such a proactive approach to community education about the scheme and what it means available broadly to all residents, not just those set to receive works.
Ally O’Donnell, our senior communications manager who joined stakeholders on the visit, said: “It was great to visit Barnes and meet with the teams at RHP, Mulalley, the council and FFT to hear more about this ambitious programme and the positive outcomes the work will have for residents.
“It’s clear that the team at RHP are passionate about the work they’re doing and their role in projects that do good for people and the planet.
“I look forward to hearing more about the project as the programme continues across the next 13 months.”
It’s clear that the team at RHP are passionate about the work they’re doing and their role in projects that do good for people and the planet.
About the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund
First launched in August 2021, the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund made grant funding available to eligible social housing landlords, including local authorities and housing associations, so that they can install energy efficiency measures, such as insulation and heat pumps, in socially rented homes.
The scheme is designed to support more social housing tenants, who will benefit from homes that are warmer and cheaper to heat, saving money on their fuel bills, as well as cutting carbon emissions, as part of the UK’s approach to delivering net zero in a way that reduces the burden on British families.
In our capacity as delivery agent for the scheme, we provide assurance to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. We continue to monitor and make refinements, responding to the feedback we receive, to ultimately help all successful grant recipients on their journey to supporting the net zero agenda.
Read more about the scheme through our website.
