Charting a fabric-first route to EPC C for a Westminster homelessness charity.
Project Overview
- Client: Ark Consultancy (commissioned on behalf of The Passage)
- Sector: Charity / Supported Housing
- Location: Bentley House, Westminster, London
- Services Provided: Retrofit Assessments, Ventilation Surveys, Improvement Option Evaluations, Decarbonisation Feasibility – MEES Report
- Scale: 20 self-contained flats
- Target: EPC C (MEES compliance)
The Challenge
Bentley House’s flats date back to the mid-19th century and were performing poorly, with existing EPC ratings ranging from F to D – leaving them expensive to heat and uncomfortable for residents. o find a way forward, each of the 20 self-contained flats first needed individual assessment: understanding condition, ventilation, and energy performance flat-by-flat, rather than assuming a single fix would suit the whole building. The top-floor flats were the worst performers, sitting directly beneath a flat roof terrace whose insulation status couldn’t be confirmed without an invasive survey, so it had to be assumed absent for planning purposes. The building’s location within the Westminster Cathedral Conservation Area added a further constraint, limiting which energy-efficiency measures could be installed without full planning approval. Ark Consultancy needed a clear path to EPC C that worked within the conservation area’s restrictions while remaining deliverable for a charity supporting vulnerable residents.
The Solution
MEES Report & Fabric-First Retrofit Strategy
We carried out a full assessment across all 20 flats to build an accurate, flat-by-flat picture of where heat was being lost and why. Working in line with PAS 2035, we took a fabric-first approach – prioritising improvements to the building’s physical structure to reduce heat loss before addressing the heating systems themselves. The resulting MEES report set out a specific package of interventions: adding 100mm of roof insulation above the upper-floor flats, upgrading to energy-efficient doors and windows, improving airtightness to cut draughts and uncontrolled heat loss, and replacing inefficient panel heaters with modern high heat retention storage heaters. Together, these measures were designed so the building retains as much heat as possible, maximising the efficiency of the new heating systems rather than compensating for ongoing fabric losses.
The Outcome
The report gave The Passage a clear and actionable strategy – with the proposed fabric-first upgrades projected to raise most assessed flats from ratings as low as F into the target EPC C band. Beyond meeting future MEES requirements, the plan’s real value is in what it means for residents: warmer, more energy-efficient homes with heating systems that can finally work as intended, in a building that continues to respect its conservation area setting.
Client Testimonial
We have worked with Building Energy Experts on a number of projects and have consistently found them to be professional, knowledgeable, and collaborative. They work closely with our team to ensure that we meet the aims and expectations of our clients, often going above and beyond to deliver high-quality outcomes. Their reliability and commitment make them a valued partner in our work around social housing decarbonisation.
— Luke Beard, Assistant Director of Technical Services, ARK Consultancy
