SBS is managing a growing portfolio of retrofit schemes across the Midlands, largely funded by Wave 3 of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund. As a result, thousands of properties are set to benefit from energy efficiency improvements by 2028.
Building on our strong track record of delivering in the region via Wave 2 of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), we are now managing PAS 2030/2035-compliant programmes for a number of social housing providers. Measures include solar PV, external wall insulation, loft insulation, ventilation upgrades, replacement windows and doors, and hot water cylinder upgrades. Each scheme is designed around specific needs of the properties and the people living in them.
Our relationship with the Coventry-based housing provider Citizen is a clear example of the long-term partnerships that we’ve nurtured and developed across the Midlands. Initially, we delivered a Wave 2.1 programme in Coventry worth approximately £22m. The scheme, which yielded improvements to 1,000 occupied homes, finished in March 2026. It is expected to deliver energy savings of more than 4 million kWh per year.
We are now working with Citizen on the next phase of its retrofit ambitions under Wave 3, further cementing a relationship that has already supported 53 full-time and part-time jobs within the local supply chain.
Tracy Troiolo, retrofit technical officer at Citizen, said: “People are at the heart of everything we do, so it’s hugely rewarding to see and hear about the differences that these energy efficiency measures are making to our customers. At Citizen, we are committed to working with our partners to make a positive difference to our customers and communities – and we are looking forward to carrying out more energy efficiency works across the West Midlands.”
In parallel with our work with Citizen, we are also delivering a Wave 3 programme for Trent & Dove Housing in Burton upon Trent. The first year of the scheme is now complete. Working across two three-storey blocks of occupied flats, our teams delivered valuable retrofit measures to 104 occupied properties in just 13 weeks, at a projected first-year cost of approximately £1.7m. Year-two works encompass a mix of individual houses and bungalows.
The scheme was characterised by significant technical complexity. Solar PV panels were installed on the roofs, and feeds ran down to ground floor level, requiring careful management of fire protection through the various floors and ceilings. Crucially, our team noted that redundant bin chutes within the blocks offered an ideal centralised location for the inverters and we duly submitted a proposal to the fire service and the client’s compliance team. The solution was agreed in full. A key benefit was that it removed the need to disturb any fire walls or to access individual flats, so it significantly reduced disruption to residents.
SBS regional director Steve Roberts said: “The fact that we completed 104 properties in 13 weeks reflects the careful planning and collaboration that went into the project from day one. The bin chute solution is just one example of what’s possible when the right people come together early and approach challenges with a practical mindset. It protected the integrity of the building’s fire safety design, it minimised disruption to tenants, and it delivered a cleaner, mjore efficient installation overall.”
SBS teams are also currently working on site for Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA). The two-phase scheme features more than 140 properties in the East Midlands, and involves a comprehensive range of measures including external wall insulation, solar PV, replacement windows and doors, loft insulation and ventilation upgrades. Effective customer engagement has been central to the scheme’s delivery so far; our team has worked closely with NCHA to ensure ready access to all properties, and staff have maintained high standards of communication throughout.
On another Wave 3-funded programme for Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) we are improving 140 properties in the Nottingham and Derby areas. Operatives are completing the installation of measures including solar PV, loft insulation and ventilation upgrades.
We have also recently secured a Wave 3 contract with Black Country Housing Group and we’re working with PA Housing across it’s Midlands portfolio. Both schemes are progressing well.
All Wave 3 programmes across the region are set for completion by 2028.
Reflecting on current activities, Steve said: “The breadth of schemes we’re delivering across the Midlands reflects the scale of ambition within the social housing sector and the confidence that our clients have placed in us. Each project brings its own challenges, but on every one of them we’re maintaining a firm commitment to getting the fundamentals right – thorough sound planning, close collaboration with clients and residents, and a practical, problem-solving approach on the ground.
“We’re proud to be playing a significant role in improving the comfort, energy efficiency and long-term sustainability of homes across the region, and we look forward to continuing to build on these relationships as Wave 3 gathers momentum.”
