Warmer homes and lower bills in Northampton

Warmer homes and lower bills in Northampton

The Northampton Whole House Retrofit project is transforming 150 hard-to-treat, expensive-to-heat homes in Kingsthorpe. The houses, dating back to the 1920s and 30s, are built of solid brick, with narrow-cavity walls.

Led by West Northamptonshire Council and Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH), this is a £5.6 million project – £3 million from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator phase, £2.2 million co-funding from Northampton Partnership Homes, and £350k from the Energy Company Obligation. 

Upgrades include air source heat pumps, solar panels, and more energy-efficient doors and windows – all aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing costs for tenants. The homes involved are being extensively monitored alongside an additional 75 home ‘control’ sample, focusing on homes with EPCs in Bands D and E.

One resident, Aliye, shares how the project has changed life at home for her and her family…

A positive impact on energy and bills

Aliye lives in social housing in Northampton with her partner and five children. Like many families, rising energy bills have been a concern. As part of the retrofit, her house was fitted with an air source heat pump, solar panels and more thermally efficient doors and windows. These have made a real difference, and the family’s energy bills have been significantly lower since the work was completed. As Aliye explains: “Already, we’re seeing a massive change in our energy consumption and costs. And that’s having such a positive impact on us as a family.”

At first, the new system was unfamiliar, but she quickly got used to it and saw the benefits. “We had never heard of this heat pump before, so it was quite interesting to see how the system works and how, with the help of the solar panels, we are able to get that extra energy generated,” she said.  

After any retrofit, it’s essential that residents understand how to use any new equipment, and what it means for the way in which they live in their home. An effective handover means they’ll get the full benefits of living in a warmer healthier home, with reduced energy bills. The RISE advice on Handover to residents takes you through the key steps to handover to make sure residents feel fully comfortable with all the changes.

One of the biggest benefits has been moving away from gas. “It’s supposed to be more eco-friendly, so I’m very happy we managed to get rid of the gas. We are just electric now. And with the rise in costs of gas and electricity, it is very beneficial to have a system put in place because it will make a massive difference to the home.” 

Aliye has already seen significant savings: “We’re looking at around £2.50 a day, which is a massive drop for us. Even though the prices have gone up, we are still putting in less than we were before.”

Building a more sustainable future

With 132 homes already completed and the project nearing full completion, Northampton is leading the way in sustainable housing. By reducing energy demand this initiative supports both national and local net zero targets, all while making a positive difference to people’s homes.