Gallions Housing (Peabody) Retrofit Works – JESSICA London Green Fund
1.1 Introduction
Gallions (now part of Peabody) applied for £4million of funding from the JESSICA London Green Fund through THFC. The funds were used to carry out planned improvements to homes in Thamesmead, London.
1.2 Project
The project was part of Gallions’ long term plan to upgrade properties to meet contemporary standards on decent homes and energy efficiency. The properties are large concrete panel construction, classified as ‘hard to heat and hard to treat’ in terms of thermal performance.
Roof insulation, energy efficient glazing and doors were installed as a cost effective package of impactful measures, after feasibility studies suggested the use of deeper sustainability measures in the regeneration would be prohibitive due to the construction type of the properties.
£3,037,801 was invested in these measures, resulting in carbon emissions savings of 61 tCO2/annum, this calculation being based on the replacement of old single glazed metal windows with A-grade uPVC windows across 670 homes (14,290 m2 of glazing in total).
The second stage of the project was the renovation of Parkview Hub to meet PassivHaus equivalent retrofit standards. A timber element system was fitted: prefabricated timber elements of 380mm-wide filled with blown cellulose fibre insulation. Window frames with triple glazing are factory installed in the elements. Together with prefab roof structures this method allowed a new building envelope to be installed around the existing properties, while tenants continued to live in their homes, therefore minimising the disruption to residents. Combined with the installation of MVHR ventilation in every unit, the space heat demand was reduced by 80%.
1.3 Notes from visit by GLA personnel on behalf of the London Green Fund:
Part of the £4,000,000 funding was used to retrofit the Parkview Hub existing building. The flats were extremely cold and had a lot of damp and condensation issues. The investment has helped to improve the standard of living for so many residents. The energy bills were very high as residents tried to keep themselves warm. The improvement works have had a significant impact. Residents have noticed massive difference in their energy bills. Most of them now pay under £20 a month for their energy bills. During the overall refurbishment solar panels were also installed on the roof from which the Peabody offices and shop fronts will benefit.