Addressing The Carbon Footprint of Rural Properties

Tatton Estate has over 400 residential and commercial properties, many powered by oil fired boilers. The Estate is undergoing a carbon audit across all property and commercial operations to develop an investment and delivery plan to retrofit existing buildings.

Working with Cheshire West and Chester Council, Broad Oak Properties and others the Estate is able to access the government’s HUG (Home Upgrade Grant) Scheme. This will enable the Estate to support low income families and access funding to install low carbon heating, internal insulation, and other sustainable products in the properties.

No 2 Bostock Green is a 150 year old red brick farm workers cottage, still heated by the original back boiler and open fires.

The priority for the team was to take a ‘fabric first’ approach to renovation and so the cottage underwent a full upgrading of wall and roof insulation. In addition an air source heat pump and new water tank was installed.

One of the challenges with retrofitting is that inevitably the properties need replastering, new carpets, bathroom refurbishments and a new kitchen. None of these are covered by the existing grant scheme. Another key challenge can be the need to relocate the tenants whilst the work is being done.

Working with Broad Oak Properties and our internal maintenance and property team we managed to deliver the whole upgrade for £52,309, of which £22,309 was grant funding.

The cottage has been re-assessed and the EPC rating has improved from G to C.