Cambridge Housing Society Decarbonisation

McBains was subsequently employed to undertake further analysis including projected energy efficiency measures and associated costs for the submission of an SHDF wave 2.2 bid which incorporated 107 dwellings within CHS’s portfolio. Following the successful SHDF bid, we were appointed to undertake retrofit coordination, assessment, and design roles, adhering strictly to PAS 2035 standards, to deliver the funded programme. Our teams remained client side during the retrofit programme to ensure quality standards were upheld and that the client had full visibility of the work. 

A robust methodology for post-installation monitoring and evaluation, including testing and energy performance monitoring, has been developed to ensure continued compliance and success.

A critical element of any retrofit programme of this scale is professional and timely engagement with residents and the housing association. McBains understands that the foundations for a successful retrofit programme are laid with access to dwellings and the cooperation of residents. McBains was appointed to undertake the resident liaison function in house to ensure that access provision aligned with the programme timescales, to avoid abortive visits, and to provide a point of contact and point of information for residents. 

Through mobilisation of our trusted supply chain, supplementing our own in-house retrofit assessors, we were able to bolster capacity and expediate timescales for the carrying out of detailed surveys, documentation of key dwelling data, and production of technical reports on conditions and improvement options. 

Our in-house building surveyors, qualified as retrofit co-ordinators, oversaw the project from inception to completion, managing risk paths, reviewing assessments and designs, and ensuring compliance and project success. They also reviewed building condition surveys and defects identified by the assessors, highlighting to the contractor any potential issues that may affect retrofit works. 

Combining architectural and sustainability expertise for fabric solutions and mechanical and electrical engineers for service solution, we reviewed the assessment and suggested energy efficient measures and proposed tailored designs to ensure the client’s intended outcomes were achieved. Our approach delivered alignment with regulatory standards and promoted best practise to avoid unintended outcomes while prioritizing residents' health and wellbeing and minimising operational and embodied carbon emissions.