Plus Dane Group secures £107K funding for pioneering eco-refurbishment

Plus Dane Group has secured a share of £17M government funding to deliver a pioneering eco-refurbishment of a Victorian end-terrace property in Liverpool. 

The group has received over £107K funding from the Technology Strategy Board, following a rigorous competition. The Technology Strategy Board’s significant programme, called ‘Retrofit for the Future’, is the first of its kind in the UK. It is designed to demonstrate how innovative technologies can make existing homes more energy-efficient and produce deep cuts in carbon emissions. 

The programme was recently announced by Science Minister Lord Drayson and Housing Minister John Healey. 

Plus Dane Group’s project is the only scheme in Merseyside to receive the funding, and one of only seven exemplar projects in the North West. Plus Dane Group will convert the property in Wavertree, Liverpool to meet the highest possible energy efficient standards – known as PassivHaus.  

Key features of Plus Dane Group’s unique and innovative project are:

• Pioneering the use of super-insulation panels;
• Triple-glazing throughout to achieve the highest level of heat retention;
• Construction of a new conservatory to the rear of the property – where air will be pre-heated by the sun and transferred into the house through mechanical ventilation;
• Solar panels to generate energy for water heating;
• Low-energy LED lighting throughout;
• A-rated energy efficient cooker and appliances fitted;
• Smart Meter technology to monitor energy consumption – giving more control and choice to the customer.

The property is now being converted from two existing flats into one, three-bedroom family home. Plus Dane Group is identifying a family to be actively involved in the project – and move in once the eco-refurbishment is completed. 

Martin Gladwin, Head of Asset Management at Plus Dane Group, told us: "The homes we live in make a significant contribution to the UK’s carbon emissions, so we are delighted to be delivering an innovative solution that will demonstrate to our local and wider communities that we can make a positive contribution to climate change, reduce fuel bills and increase people’s comfort in their own home." 

Each Retrofit for the Future exemplar project will be carefully evaluated for 2 years by the Energy Saving Trust. Results will be shared to show how the UK’s current housing stock could be made more energy efficient – and help to meet the government’s target to cut CO₂ emissions by 80% by 2050. 27% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from housing, with social housing comprising almost 20% of UK homes. 

David Bott, Director of Innovation Programmes, Technology Strategy Board, said: "At least 60% of the houses we’ll be living in by 2050 have already been built. So it is critical that we look at ways to dramatically improve the performance of our existing housing stock. Retrofit for the Future provides the test-beds we need to ensure the development of long-term, mass solutions."

A recognised leader on the delivery of sustainable homes and construction innovation, Plus Dane Group was a treble Finalist at the 2009 Sustainable Housing Awards, is a member of the Sustainable Homes Index for Tomorrow (SHIFT) national best practice group and is a founding member of the Innovation Chain North West partnership, embracing new technologies and house types to deliver quality, sustainable homes that are cheaper to run and future-proof. 

Plus Dane Group is a member of the National Housing Federation Advisory Panel on Environmental Issues, a signatory to the North West Climate Change Charter, represented at CECODHAS (The European Liaison Committee for Social Housing) and a Green Ambassador for Liverpool City Council. The group works with BRE (Building Research Establishment) and the Zero Carbon Hub.