Wrexham County Borough Council – Optimised Retrofit Programme

Wrexham, North Wales

Project Value: £1.8m

Introduction

SBS has a long-standing working relationship with Wrexham County Borough Council. In 2013, for example, we were awarded a place on the council’s Re-Roofing and Group Repairs Framework and, through it, we were able to upgrade hundreds of local homes. But that in itself followed numerous other projects that we had undertaken on behalf of the same client over the preceding 10 years.

Consequently, in 2024, when housing managers set about planning the installation of decarbonisation measures on 72 homes in the area, we were invited to submit a bid under the framework. We had already delivered the first phase of the scheme, and this second phase would again be financed by the Welsh government’s Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP).

We were duty awarded the £1.8m contract, which was designed to improve the properties’ EPC ratings from band C or better through the delivery of multiple decarbonisation measures.

The Project

The scheme began in June 2024. The 72 properties comprised a mix of terraced and semi-detached homes, all of which would be occupied throughout the project’s duration. To produce the intended thermal improvements, the specification called for the installation of new energy-efficient double-glazed windows and doors, together with an external wall insulation system supplied by Wetherby.

The EWI system comprised 90mm of enhanced EPS insulation boards. These were then covered with Wetherby’s Silicone K finish, which helped to improve the properties’ appearance, weather-resistance and airtightness.

Funding via the Optimised Retrofit Programme requires that all decarbonisation measures are designed and installed in accordance with the demands of PAS 2035:2019. We take this approach as standard, basing works on property-by-property surveys, so this presented no special challenges.

Similarly, in line with best practice, we adhere to the principles of ‘whole-house’ retrofit wherever possible and, in this instance, that included carrying out additional re-roofing works. The whole stakeholder team recognised that delivering the various improvements concurrently would yield valuable economies of scale and ensure that overall disruption to residents could be kept to a minimum.

While the retrofit works continued, our teams received regular monthly visits from the client’s appointed health & safety auditor, who ensured that the scheme was delivered safely and responsibly.

Results

With operatives ready to mobilise immediately, we were able to make excellent progress. Effective resident engagement helped to minimise delays due to refused access, and despite poor weather, we successfully completed all works in February 2025.

The decarbonisation measures brought all 72 homes up to a minimum EPC rating of band C – a result that will inevitably help to reduce residents’ energy bills and improve their everyday living standards.

Finally, in an effort to create further benefits for the community, we ensured that project expenditure was directed, wherever possible, towards local operatives, suppliers and approved subcontractors – all with the aim of creating or sustaining local jobs. In addition, we ensured that at least 1% of the project’s value was returned to local neighbourhoods through a variety of social value initiatives.