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The Retrofit project in Islington combines the upgrades at Davidson House, Palmer House, and Dibden House. These buildings are part of the first wave of Peabody/Catalyst and Islington‘s successful bid to the Social Housing Decarbonization Fund. This initiative aims to enhance the energy efficiency of social housing to lower heating costs for residents and reduce carbon emissions.

Davidson House, located on Warrender Road, is a four-storey residential block built in the 1950s-60s with a solid brickwork envelope. It contains 16 flats, providing general needs housing and accommodation for older residents. Palmer House, also on Warrender Road, is the northernmost of three blocks and consists of 12 flats expressly let for later living. It was constructed in the late 1950s or early 1960s. Dibden House, located on Dibden Street, is a four-storey block built in 1965, consisting of 12 flats primarily for a later living demographic.

The primary objectives of these individual Retrofit projects were to enhance energy efficiency, thermal comfort and fire safety for residents. By reducing thermal heat loss by over 85%, the projects aimed to significantly lower heating energy requirements, thereby reducing carbon emissions and heating costs. The new External Wall Insulation (EWI) systems installed at each building comply with fire safety standards, achieving an A2-s1,d0 rating. This rating indicates limited combustibility, minimal smoke emission, and no flaming droplets or particles within the first 10 minutes of fire exposure, ensuring the cladding does not contribute to fire formation or spread.

In addition to improving thermal performance, the Retrofits addressed existing damp penetration issues, protecting the masonry from further deterioration and reducing future maintenance needs. The EWI systems also enhance the buildings’ thermal mass, allowing the masonry walls to act as a thermal store during summer, mitigating the risk of overheating—a growing concern for later living residents.

The projects also included refurbishing existing balustrades, renewing damaged glass panels, and adapting panels adjacent to the new insulation. Rainwater pipes were replaced with aluminium, and the roof verge was extended with colour-matched aluminium extrusions.

The Retrofit projects significantly improve energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and fire safety, offering residents a greatly enhanced standard of living. They reduce energy costs and carbon emissions and align with current building regulations to ensure long-term protection and reduced maintenance. The building’s owner, Peabody/Catalyst, benefits from increased long-term sustainability and minimised maintenance