Retrofitting the first garden city: A Feasibility Study

Introduction

In 2024 we received the grant funding agreement for £40,000 from the Community Energy Fund. We would like to formally acknowledge and thank the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, acting as the Accountable Body for the Grant on behalf of the Greater South East Net Zero Hub, for their support.

The project we undertook was to assess the opportunities for making homes in Letchworth Garden City more energy efficient, comfortable and communicate this information clearly to residents. To understand the specific barriers to residents through consultation, and to identify innovative financial model(s) that might assist the able to pay market in the absence of Government subsidy.

We selected two project partners to deliver the project in collaboration with us. The organisations were Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) and People Powered Retrofit (PPR).

Project Events

Workshop 1 - 6/11/2024

A two-hour event held at one of our own venues – titled Beginners Guide to Retrofit. The event was marketed through our social media channels and the local special interest group. We did not reach a ‘different’ group of people.

The content was well received.

Presentation

Beginner's Guide To Retrofit powerpoint thumbnail

Workshop 2 - 4/02/2025

A two-hour event held at a different venue in town. Titled Healthy, Comfy and Affordable Homes. Marketed internally, and using the venue and food provider’s 'audience reach’.

We managed to get some different audience members, however turnout was still less than 20 members of the public.

Presentation recording and slides

Published Article

Healthy, Comfy and Affordable Homes powerpoint thumbnail

Fan Party - 22/02/2025

A public event held at a social housing provider’s vacant property.

This event was a by-product of the detailed energy assessment of a ‘typical’ property in Letchworth. Which was a 1920’s end of terrace.

There was limited reach for this event.

Air Test Report

A thermal camera image of a house window, showing how heat escapes from around the window.

Launch Event - 26/03/2025

End of project summary from partners with guest speakers (recording is a recap).

Presentation recording and slides

Retrofitting the first garden city – A Feasibility Study powerpoint thumbnail

Lessons Learned from Events

It takes time to create a following. We did not have the scope to continue providing messages about the project to our potential audience, which meant that we didn’t grow a community following during the project. Also, our key social media feeds don’t have an existing following that is focused on energy efficiency. Therefore, there was a desire not to flood our social media accounts with information that isn’t core to our charitable operations.

We couldn’t leverage our links with multiple local special interest groups. The existing links are there to manage other work streams. Including messages about this project would dilute the core purpose of engagement.

Project Outputs

A thermal camera image of a loft hatch, showing heat escaping.

Air Test Report

A summary of the results from the air tightness test at a property in Letchworth. This was led by PPR, in partnership with Waxwing Energy.

An illustration of a typical Letchworth home

Interactive House Model

This interactive tool provides independent information about different measures homeowners can take to their homes in the context of Letchworth. Providing clarity about exactly what can be done and where to turn to next for more guidance. This was led by ASBP, and supported by PPR.

Whole House Retrofit Plan

This plan provides a detailed summary which outlines different potential pathways for the property we assessed. These pathways are aligned to different homeowner priorities –carbon, cost and comfort. Led by PPR.

Financial Feasibility Summary Note

A summary of what is currently available, what could be possible, and case studies of work being carried out in this area. Led by PPR.

The team

Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation

Kris Karslake – Sustainability Policy and Programme Manager (Project Lead)

Claire Pudney – Head of Heritage and Stewardship

Alliance for Sustainable Building Products

Richard Broad – Director

Asselia Katenbayeva – Research Associate

Katherine Adams – Technical Director

People Powered Retrofit

Monika Jerszynska – Partnerships Manager

Jonathan Atkinson – Business Development Director

Marianne Heaslip – Technical Director

Waxwing Energy

Gervase Mangwana – Director

Additional Thanks to

Material Suppliers and Project Partners

Clive Charters - Asset Manager, Settle | Mark Stenning - Operations Director, EcoMerchant | Alex Cook, AC Plastering | Claire Stokes and Martin Brown, Best of Lime | Mark Hodgson, Modern Maker | Angela Bell & Ben Mair - Letchworth Garden Shed | Holly-Anne Rolfe – Garden City Brewery | Harry Williams – Vutie Beets | Paul Ciniglio – Head of Whole Home Retrofit, Sally Hodgkinson – Project Manager, David Limbo – Retrofit Coordinator, National Energy Foundation

Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation

Amandeep Dhillon, Amy Blackhurst, Claire Pudney, Ed Paxton, Emily Flitney, Graham Fisher, Karen Berry, Louise Sahlke, Paul Davey, Stuart Sapsford, Zoë MacLennan and staff at Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation | Adam Grant and Governors at Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation

Critical friends

Michael Zohouri - Director, Tim Cameron-Kitchen - Director, Pyramid Eco | Julian Still, Saint Gobain | Julia Sonander, Roger Lovegrove and Decarbonise Letchworth Members | Philippa Parker, Secretary, Letchworth Garden City Society | Dave Boyle, Director, Community Shares | Sam Monger – The Good Economy | Emily Wojcik – Fair By Design | Carole Riley - Director of Services, David Ahlquist - Development Manager and Debbie Wildridge - Development Officer (East of England/London) – Locality

… and apologies to everyone else that might be missed