Welsh Housing Awards winner 2023

Sustainability in housing

Partner organisation: SERS Ltd

Hafod is a socially conscious, not-for-profit organisation, focused on making lives better by building communities and making connections.

We deliver high-quality affordable homes and support services for people to maintain their independence and well-being, for as long as possible. We also provide care to people in their own homes, in supported housing or in our residential care and nursing homes.

We work across seven local authority areas in Wales and help over 20,000 people each year. We continue to develop and grow and are proud to support people throughout their lifetime.

While Hafod’s new homes are built with sustainability as a priority, the decarbonisation of existing, older homes is an ongoing challenge.

Keen to carry out extensive retrofit works that would benefit the planet, and customers, Hafod set out to complete effective decarbonisation works while customers lived in their homes, as opposed to works that could only be carried out on voids.

78 houses and four blocks of flats in Thornhill, Cwmbran, have been retrofitted with extensive external upgrades. The project, which was funded directly by Hafod, began in July 2021 and work finished in August 2023.

Hafod believes in building communities and making connections, and this approach is critical in driving forward their retrofit agenda. Progress in this area is only possible if the community connects with the importance of sustainability.

The homes, which were built between 1976 and 1982, were surveyed to gain technical information on heat loss, and customer consultation took place to understand their experiences and get to grips with any ‘bugbears’.

The team designed new roofs to incorporate new external wall insulation. This then sat underneath the new soffits and consequently looked original.

The location, high up in Cwmbran, meant enveloping the homes in insulation was key. Hafod and contractor SERS, worked together to carry out the work in a non-invasive way. Insulation was fitted to the outside of the homes and brick render was applied on top. This meant little to no disruption to the inside of customers’ homes.

Fitting new windows was always part of the plan at Thornhill. But the team went one step further and considered how the old design could be improved to reduce cold spots. This included changing the back door (which previously had some adjacent, unnecessary PVC), blocking up this section to prevent a cold spot and updating the back door to a better quality.

Making the homes more airtight was a priority, and whole house ventilation systems were fitted.

Sarah Hancock  |  Head of assets

“The Thornhill project team are experts in approaching challenges as opportunities. Their positive attitude and commitment to our decarb agenda meant that this project was a huge success.”

The work taking place meant that communicating with customers effectively was key. They addressed this head-on with John the project lead, spending time with customers on a weekly basis. By doing this, they also strengthened Hafod’s relationship with customers in Thornhill.

One of the biggest challenges came halfway through the project when global events caused material shortages. The insulation needed to be covered in an aesthetically pleasing way. To do this, the team began with brick slips, but these became impossible to get hold of.

Once again, the passion for driving sustainability turned this material challenge into a positive change. Brick render quickly became an effective technique. With contractor SERS even inventing their own tool to improve efficiency. This new technique meant one side of a house could be brick rendered in just one day and the project team is clear that it’s a technique they would use again.

When SERS were asked about their workforce, the commitment to the local community was clear, “They’re all from Cwmbran, I can even point to some of their houses from here!”

Customers were able to talk openly with the contractor, and the project quickly became a team effort between Hafod, SERS and customers.

Community benefits were also included, and the end of the project was celebrated with an event for customers, colleagues, and contractors to celebrate their achievement.

When we asked John, the project lead, what they feel made the project a success, he responded, “the customers”.

The community support for this project and the benefits it would bring has been significant. Customers worked alongside Hafod colleagues and contractors, paying great attention to new techniques being used and showing patience when homes were undergoing the work. Their support, and the encouragement they gave to their neighbours, has helped drive forward the retrofit agenda in the area.

The passion of Hafod’s assets team also made the project a success. That the work they have done has contributed to Hafod’s decarbonisation agenda, as well as creating healthier homes for customers, proves that sustainability projects can be carried out effectively, with customer support and benefits for all involved.

Dean  |  Resident at Thornhill

“My house was reasonably cold. I mean, I would get up in the morning and temperatures are like six degrees in the house, all the way through. I was having to put the heating up full, and the heat wasn’t holding. “Then we had the new windows and insulation, and I’ve noticed the difference. You know how cold Wales can get! My house has been a lot more energy efficient since the work has been done. It’s been fantastic, I would recommend it!”

Following the project’s success, Hafod has pushed forward with its retrofit agenda, recently applying for funding to carry out three more retrofit projects, using what they have learned from Thornhill.

Sustainability was the driving force behind the project, but creating healthy homes for customers will also ensure ongoing benefits.

The team will continue to work alongside Thornhill customers to monitor their bills and energy usage over the winter months.