Believe Housing Retrofit Wave 1 Bishop Auckland
Introduction
The scheme located on Proudfoot Drive, Bishop Auckland, was the first SHDF (Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund) to commence in The North East of England. A full and comprehensive scheme involving replacement roofs with solar panels, new windows, air source heat pumps and Insulated Render with Brick Slip and Silicone Render finish.
As part of the wholescale regeneration, Believe Housing invested to improve the homes of existing customers living on the estate to improve energy efficiency from Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) D and reduce fuel costs while also improving their visual aesthetic. The EWI treatment and the colour pallet was planned so that treated homes would blend with untreated homes in private ownership. The use of clay brick slips and silicone render specified by Wetherby Building Systems Ltd facilitated the delivery of the concept design into reality.
Nic Turner, Assets Manager from Believe Housing said “we are really pleased with the works and with how the EWI increases benefits the EPC rating and fuel efficiency for households. The treatment has modernized the look of existing properties, yet has been sympathetic with the surrounding untreated properties under private ownership.”
Selection – Sykes Specialist Contracting Ltd
Sykes Specialist Contracting Ltd, formed in 2006, were selected for the contract having worked for the Principal Contractor Equans and Believe Housing on previous contracts to deliver EWI solutions render and cladding. SSC Ltd have worked for Believe Housing and Equans since the very early days of the company’s inauguration.
Install- Sykes Specialist Contracting Ltd
Using a team of insulation installers Sykes moved swiftly installing the 120mm Mineral Insulation slabs supplied by Wetherby Building Systems Ltd. Once a number of houses were completed the render teams installed the silicone render to the top halves of the houses allowing the scaffold to be dropped. The same team then dropped back to install the 18mm clay brick slips.
David Lagus , Equans Project Manager said ”Sykes were selected on the basis of not only their existing relationship with our client and ourselves but also being one of only a few companies in the North of England to be fully accredited with the requirements for installing EWI solutions under Pas 2035/2019.” “The quality of finish to the install was as always, excellent”
Daryl Reed, Project Manager from Believe Housing said “works were completed on time and to an excellent standard, we have worked with Sykes for many years and all his trades persons are known to us which makes for a very workable relationship on site”.
Sykes Specialist Contracting are now working on schemes across the North East in Wave 2 and 2.1 and are keen to advise on future schemes having developed considerable knowledge since the the start of DCHF.