Metropolitan Housing Trust London awarded for pioneering approach to retrofit

Posted by MHP on June 30, 2010 | No Comments |  Print this article |  Send to a friend

Metropolitan Housing Trust London (MHT London) is celebrating winning the 24housing Retrofit Best Practice Award 2010. MHT London’s Neighbourhood Investment Unit (NIU) won the award for greatly improving energy efficiency in its existing properties and ensuring residents were part of the process.

MHT London, which is part of Metropolitan Housing Partnership, competed with four other shortlisted finalists to win the award. MHT London’s submission highlighted their innovative programme of works in reducing CO2 emissions of existing properties in the London Borough of Haringey. The Neighbourhood Investment Unit, a small regeneration team, was set up and tasked with tackling six-hundred hard-to-treat homes with very high reactive repairs costs. The NIU carried out a ‘whole-house’ package of works to the properties.

The works package adopted a ‘back to basics’ approach that focused on installation of insulation and resident engagement. The works involved decanting the residents for up to 14 weeks while the properties were insulated (solid and cavity walls, lofts, floors) and fitted with new double-glazed windows, efficient gas central heating, low-energy lighting and a new kitchen and bathroom. Residents were given a range of choice on decorations and features, and kept closely involved in the process by the team’s surveyors and resident liaison officers. The refurbishments made a typical 45% reduction on carbon emissions within each household.

Judge Andrew Eagles, Sustainable Homes said: “Particularly exciting was the resident involvement and the fact this was done on scale.”

MHT London received the highest score from a panel of expert judges, beating off stiff competition from Wherry Housing Association and Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership. Key to the success of winning the award was the judge’s recognition of the scale of the programme. The project was also applauded for being much more than a one-off exemplar pilot.

Judge Wayne Hemingway, Designer said “MHT London was my clear winner. It has measured its success and it’s not a trial. It’s clearly embedded into MHT London and they are rolling it out.”

Kate Gibson, head of the Neighbourhood Investment, says of winning the award: “We are delighted with the win. The team have work really hard and deserve the recognition. This award demonstrates our shared commitment to sustainable issues and best practice.”

Kate added. “It’s a really positive affirmation to have judges from a wide range of relevant perspectives recognise what we’re doing.”

Seb Junemann, Sustainability Officer for Metropolitan Housing Partnership, echoed Kate’s delight at the win saying: “The work of the Neighbourhood Investment Unit is putting MHP ahead of the game in the retrofit arena. Tackling our existing homes’ energy efficiency is more important than ever, and with the government’s new Warm Homes standard on the horizon, we’re glad to be learning lessons now.”