Project Overview
Carbon3 partnered with an energy and services company to support the whole-home retrofit of 114 social housing properties on behalf of a council in Wiltshire. This programme forms part of a wider £30 million investment to improve the energy efficiency of council-owned homes, reduce fuel bills for residents, and support the council’s goal of reaching net zero carbon by 2030.
Our scope included the design and installation of 9 kW of solar PV per property, contributing to a total of more than 1,000 kWp of installed capacity across the estate.
Funding and Frameworks
The project was delivered using the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF). WH:SHF is a funding mechanism with complex compliance requirements. Carbon3 worked closely with the council to navigate funding rules, ensuring the scheme met all technical and reporting standards. To find out more about funding routes your decarbonisation project could utilise, visit our funding options page.
Our team has extensive experience delivering WH:SHF-funded projects and ensuring installations remain fully compliant and eligible throughout the delivery period.
Technical Delivery
This was a whole-home retrofit scheme, with extensive upgrades taking place across the properties, including:
- External wall insulation
- GRP door replacements
- Gas boiler upgrades
- New ventilation systems
- Asbestos removal and structural rectification
The properties are non-traditional PRC homes, requiring careful design coordination to integrate solar PV alongside other fabric and heating works. Carbon3’s in-house design and delivery teams worked around these constraints to create efficient, roof-specific solar layouts while maintaining the performance of other building systems.
Outcomes and Impact
The retrofit programme was designed to bring EPC ratings up from Band D to at least Band C, improving energy performance and helping residents reduce their energy bills.
By installing solar PV across all 114 homes, the council is expected to see significant reductions in operational carbon, long-term energy cost savings for tenants, and improved thermal comfort and health outcomes.
This project forms part of the council’s broader Climate Change Action Plan, which focuses on practical decarbonisation measures across the borough’s housing stock.
Our Role in Social Housing Decarbonisation
This project builds on the success of previous collaborations between Carbon3 and the energy and services company under national social housing frameworks. With directly employed engineers, a strong in-house design capability, and a deep understanding of funding compliance, Carbon3 helps local authorities and delivery partners scale decarbonisation programmes efficiently and cost-effectively. Contact us to find out more.
