Warmer homes
Decent homes

Whole house retrofit works

First Choice Homes Oldham Ltd

  • Oldham
  • £4.2m
  • 2 years

Lowering energy bills for families across Oldham

As external improvement partner for First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO), Connolly are delivering SHDF wave 3 funded retrofit works to approximately 200 properties per year across Oldham and surrounding areas.

Through our whole house, fabric first approach, we are tackling issues such as fuel poverty and damp and mould, creating healthier homes for residents. By combing fabric, ventilation and renewable energy systems, we are helping households lower their energy bills c.30% per year, in addition to ensuring safety and compliance, with PAS2035, Trustmark, and Awaab’s Law.

In addition, Decentralised Mechanical Extract Ventilation (dMEV) low-energy systems are improving humidity levels and indoor air quality, whilst Solar PV, loft insulation and roofing upgrades help tackle fuel poverty. These measures form part of a coordinated programme to improve comfort, wellbeing and energy performance across FCHO homes.

c. 0 % Energy bills lowered by
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Safer Warmer Decent

  1. The brief : Connolly was appointed by First Choice Homes Oldham to complete retrofit works to 200 homes across Oldham.
  2. The challenge : Gaining party wall wavers/agreements, as neighbours to FCHO residents were unsure about having our team carry out works in such close proximity to their homes.
  3. The solution : The Connolly team worked hand in hand with FCHO to identify any potential access barriers early on. Where party wall waivers presented an issue, our customer liaison officers held face-to-face meetings with neighbours where possible to explain why the permission was needed and what works were being carried out.

Our scope of
works included

  • Roofing replacements
  • Loft insulation
  • Individual property ventilation strategy (including fans, internal door adjustments, trickle vents, etc.)
  • Window and door replacements
  • Solar PV installation
  • External works, including chimney demolition, dry verge, flashings, guttering, and fascias
  • Installation of ‘Envirovent Filterless Infinity Fans’ – Decentralised Mechanical Extract Ventilation (dMEV)

The team’s proactive approach, expertise, focus on delivering exceptional services to our customers & commitment to making a positive difference in our communities stands out in all their work.

First Choice Homes Oldham

Connolly’s approach

Successful delivery depends on careful planning and collaboration. Working closely with FCHO, our customer team identified access requirements early, securing party wall agreements and coordinating with residents and neighbours to minimise disruption and maintain programme momentum

Social value

Teaching students and improving green spaces

Managing over 10,000 homes within the borough, First Choice Homes Oldham’s (FCHO) values are rooted in listening and learning from the local community.

Thanks to a long-standing relationship, Connolly are working with FCHO to improve the local area through people-led initiatives.

From careers events to litter picking, members of Team Connolly went the extra mile to involve, educate and engage with residents and the wider community. In the winter months, we attended Blue Coat School’s Career Event, Green Week at Oldham College, and held an Industry Insight Talk for L2 Joinery students.

The Green Week at Oldham College saw us support FCHO to deliver discussions around retrofit works and career opportunities within the industry, while the Industry Insight Talk involved attendance from key members of our team. One of our Quantity Surveyors, SHEQ Manager (Safety, Health, Environment, Quality), Joiner Apprentice, and Site Managers joined the discussions to talk about their career journey and experience on site.

As the weather turned warmer, we turned to outside projects to make the area feel cherished once more. During Love Parks Week, we partnered with OL1 Oldham Community Group to litter pick across green spaces.

Making outdoor areas friendly and useable for locals, we donated timber for apprentice joiners to rebuild more accessible picnic benches in Dunwood Park. The project was such a success, it gained Connolly a mention in the local news.

0 Volunteering hours

A process refined over

four decades

  1. Framework mobilisation : Getting resource and infrastructure ready for delivery
  2. Scoping
    and surveys     : Agreeing the scope of works and budgets
  3. Customer care, KPI and social value development : Liaising with residents and measuring community impact
  4. Project mobilisation
    and delivery     : Completing the works to the highest standards

Any questions?

If you have a programme of works that you’d like to discuss or would appreciate a chat about how to achieve more with less (because isn’t that always how it is!), please fire away.

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