Basildon Council Appoints Contractor for Major Social Housing Retrofit

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Basildon Borough Council has appointed Morgan Sindall Property Services to deliver an expansive retrofit programme across approximately 1,000 homes under the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, previously known as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF). The project, worth £9.3 million, will span three years and focus on raising the energy performance rating of social homes to at least EPC C, helping to reduce energy bills and improve comfort for residents. Measures include loft and cavity wall insulation, solar PV panel installation, LED lighting, air source heat pumps, and mechanical extract ventilation, with completion expected by summer 2029. This marks a significant commitment to improving housing stock, reducing fuel poverty, and advancing net zero goals.

In parallel, LHC Procurement Group has launched a substantial retrofit and decarbonisation framework worth £660 million, appointing 126 consultants and contractors. The framework covers a wide range of services for public sector clients and social landlords, including building insulation, low-carbon heating and electrical systems, solar PV provision, and management controls. It extends across five regional business units and runs until February 2028. The appointed suppliers will be supported to gain PAS 2030 certification and TrustMark registration within two years, positioning them to deliver projects aligned with upcoming government funding waves and ensuring retrofit standards are met.

“This programme will not only help the council manage their housing stock more sustainably but also provide warmer, healthier homes for residents,” said Mustafa Mustafa, head of decarbonisation at MSPS. Meanwhile Clive Feeney, chief executive of LHC Procurement Group, noted the framework will be a vital enabler for local authorities and housing associations to meet new decarbonisation targets, including the UK’s ambition for an 81 percent emissions cut by 2035.

What this means:

These developments demonstrate tangible progress in decarbonising the existing built environment, particularly social housing, through significant public investment and partnership models. Basildon’s targeted retrofit strategy exemplifies a local authority delivering deep, fabric-first upgrades to enhance energy resilience. Meanwhile, the LHC framework provides a scalable pipeline of decarbonisation capacity across the wider public sector.

Together, these initiatives contribute to lowering operational emissions, improving resident well‑being, and setting benchmarks for retrofit delivery aligned with net zero ambitions underlining the central role of built environment interventions in the UK’s low‑carbon transition.

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