ECD Architects to tackle 13 ‘Retrofit for the Future’ projects

11 March 2010

ECD Architects to tackle 13 ‘Retrofit for the Future’ projects
Photo by Matt Faber

Sustainable Architects ECD will be leading on 2 and providing architectural consultancy as sub-contractors on 11 of the eighty-seven social housing projects selected to benefit from the £17m of government funding to test low carbon building technology.

The Technology Strategy Board competition , entitled Retrofit for the Future, was launched on the 25th February by Science Minister Lord Drayson (above left) from Hyde Housing Group’s property in Eltham where he met with ECD Associate Director and Head of Sustainability Mark Elton (above right) to view the technologies being installed into the dwelling.

The retrofit prototypes will each receive an average of £142,000 to demonstrate deep cuts in carbon emissions and exemplar energy efficient measures in UK social housing.  The level of funding is specifically designed to stimulate the implementation of innovative, proof of concept demonstrator houses that may offer cost effective solutions for wider role out across the UK. Competition to participate was tough, with around 190 proposals submitted to the Technology Strategy Board after the Phase One feasibility studies. It is intended that the principles established by Retrofit for the Future prototypes can be applied throughout the country and that social housing will continue to take a lead role in terms of energy reduction and CO2 mitigation.

ECD’s success builds on the experience of its first award-winning ‘Retrofit & Replicate’ project in Mottingham, South East London, also completed with Hyde Housing Group and Mears contractors, which aimed to reduce CO2 emissions in a 3-bed terraced dwelling by 80% and which is currently being comprehensively monitored. The Retrofit for the Future projects will also monitored for at least two years by the Energy Saving Trust with the results published by the Government-backed Technology Strategy Board  in due course.

Mark Elton, Associate Director at ECD Architects says: “The targets set by the competition are very demanding, particularly so where the architectural appearance is sensitive - as in this dwelling in the Progress Estate Conservation Area. Our various retrofit packages aim to preserve each property’s heritage or architectural quality whilst greatly reducing space heating needs and meeting energy demands through greater efficiency and on-site generation.”

This is an exciting prospect for ECD involving itself in innovative initiative of national importance and reinforcing its position as leading experts in the field of low carbon retrofit and sustainable construction solutions.

Notes to Editors:

ECD is to lead the following Technology Strategy Board Projects:

1.         South Wight HA retrofit, ECD Architects
2.         Southern Housing Group retrofit, ECD Architects

ECD is to provide Architectural Services as sub contractors on the following Technology Strategy Board Projects:

1.         Selleck Nicholls Williams Retrofit, Crawley Homes
2.         Crawley New Town Retrofit, Crawley Homes
3.         Wimpey No-Fines Retrofit, Crawley Homes
4.         Cornish Unity Retrofit, Crawley Homes
5.         Prince Rupert Street - Retrofit & Replicate II: Progress, Hyde Housing Association
6.         City West Homes' retrofit, City West Homes Ltd
7.         Ascham Homes, Maple Avenue, Breyer Group PLC
8.         1960s Terraced 2 bed property in NE London, Enfield Homes
9.         Solid wall Victorian house in urban Conservation Area, East Thames Group
10.        Gaymer Memorial Cottages, Hastoe Housing Association
11.        Adelaide Waters Almshouses, Cambridge Housing Society

About:

The ‘Retrofit for the future’ Competition was launched by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) in March 2009 and has been delivered in two phases. Phase 1, the feasibility and design phase, saw £3.5 million awarded to 180 organisations covering 193 separate projects, enabling them to work with suppliers to devise solutions to make cuts in carbon emissions produced by social housing.  Phase 2, the build phase, sees 86 projects awarded contracts to build ‘demonstrator’ houses in 2010 with £13.5 million funding, £7 million of which was supplied by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ Strategic Investment Fund.

The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led executive non departmental public body, established by the Government. Its mission is to promote and support research into, and development and exploitation of, technology and innovation for the benefit of UK business, in order to increase economic growth and improve quality of life. It is sponsored by the UK’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). www.innovateuk.org