Onward Homes – Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 

Liverpool (Kirkdale and Walton) 

Project Value: £9.5m

Introduction

SBS has a long history of collaborating with Onward Homes. In 2024, for example, we worked together on an SHDF Wave 2.1-funded project in Oldham. In 2026, the client decided to build on this relationship by commissioning a new, larger scheme, involving 343 terraced homes in Merseyside. It procured the work via the Fusion 21 framework, drawing on funding from Wave 3 of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund.

The properties, located in the Kirkdale and Walton districts of Liverpool, were built between 100 and 150 years ago and, like many older homes, they were not insulated to modern standards. Consequently, they required a range of retrofit works in order to help to improve their energy efficiency, to reduce residents’ energy bills and to assist in making progress towards net zero.

The Project

In accordance with best practice and the demands of the PAS standards, the retrofit measures were planned on the basis of property-by-property surveys. These helped to determine which measures would be most effective in raising all properties to an EPC band rating of ‘C’ or better.

Working to the well-proven principle of ‘fabric first’, the project team agreed to install a range of energy-efficiency measures that would help to retain heat during cold weather and prevent homes from overheating during the hotter summer months. Amongst others, those measures included cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, replacement doors and windows, and ventilation upgrades.

Another important part of the retrofit design was the use of an external wall insulation system, developed by Permarock Products. The system would be installed to the properties’ rear elevations, where they would enhance their thermal performance while also improving their appearance with an attractive, weather-protective render system.

In order to respect the architectural heritage and improve thermal performance on the front elevations, insulation would instead be applied selectively to the window reveals. This would leave the brick façades unchanged but would entail some additional disruption for residents while the internal works were carried out. This made early and effective resident liaison especially important.

Finally, to maximise the opportunities for economies of scale, the team would also undertake other repair works, including roof alterations and extensions.

Results

Despite some initial reluctance on the part of some residents, the team was able to demonstrate the benefits in terms of appearance, sound-proofing and cost-savings. As tenants saw homes being improved, so they became convinced of the desirability of the works and they ultimately all agreed.

The first phase of works encompassed three streets and was completed on schedule by May 2026. Phase 2 began in May 2026 and progress to date has been excellent.

In addition to delivering valuable energy efficiency improvements, we also took part in local initiatives that produced additional social value. These included:

• ‘Our House’ Walton Community Hub: Improvements to garden spaces;
• ‘Everton in the Community’, a local unemployment hub. So far, we have employed two labourers on the scheme and more are expected to follow.

Further social value measures will be delivered as the project continues.

Client Feedback

Describing the value of SBS’s involvement, Ross Bagnall, Retrofit Assistant Project Manager at Onward Homes, said:

“SBS are a huge contractor in this industry and they have a huge amount of knowledge and experience. So having them to lean on, and to have a working relationship with them has been brilliant so far, and I’m looking forward to working with them on the rest of this wave.

“Working with SBS has just been great, and their employees have been brilliant in dealing with our customers, keeping them informed. They’re definitely engaged and invested in making sure that this project is successful.

“As well as making our customers’ homes more affordable to run, we know that our investment can have broader benefits. Our partnership with Liverpool City Council and SBS is ensuring that we leave a positive legacy that extends beyond our customer’s homes; it will include improvements for local waste management services (and) opportunities for owner-occupiers to benefit from a whole neighbourhood approach to retrofit – and not just Onward Homes tenants.”