Our MEES report provided a clear, PAS 2035-compliant pathway to EPC C, providing warmer, more energy-efficient homes for residents of The Passage charity.
Building Energy Experts was commissioned by Ark Consultancy to develop a strategic retrofit plan for The Passage, a Westminster-based charity dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness. The comprehensive MEES report outlined a clear pathway for 20 self-contained flats at Bentley House to meet Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) and become warmer, healthier homes for residents.
Project Summary
- Client: The Passage (commissioned by Ark Consultancy)
- Property: Bentley House, London – 20 self-contained flats for residents experiencing homelessness.
- Service: A comprehensive package including Retrofit Assessments, RdSAP energy modelling, detailed floor plans, condition reports, ventilation surveys, and Improvement Option Evaluations, all informing the final MEES report.
- Objective: Raise all dwellings to a target EPC C rating.
The Challenge: Improving Inefficient Historic Flats
The flats at Bentley House, which date back to the mid-19th century, had existing EPC ratings ranging from F to D, making them energy inefficient and costly for the charity to heat. The third-floor flats were particularly poor performers, due in part due to the flat roof terrace directly above them. This is because it cannot be confirmed that insulation is present without an invasive survey, so there is assumed to be done.
Adding to the challenge, the building is located within the Westminster Cathedral Conservation Area, limiting the installation of some energy-efficiency measures without full planning approval interventions. The goal was to identify a clear, costed path to raising the dwellings to EPC C, ensuring warmer homes for residents and compliance with stricter MEES regulations in the future.
Our Solution: A MEES Report to Guide a Fabric-First Retrofit
Our technical approach, in line with PAS 2035, was “fabric-first,” prioritising improvements to the building’s physical structure to reduce heat loss before addressing building services. Our MEES report detailed the specific interventions needed to achieve the target C rating.
Key recommendations included:
- Adding 100mm of roof insulation to the roof above the upper-floor flats.
- Upgrading the building envelope by installing energy-efficient doors and windows.
- Implementing measures to improve the building’s airtightness, reducing drafts and uncontrolled heat loss.
- Replacing inefficient panel heaters with modern high heat retention storage heaters.
This holistic plan ensures that the building retains as much heat as possible, maximising the efficiency of the new heating systems.
The Outcome: A Clear, Costed Path to EPC C
The report delivered a clear, actionable strategy for The Passage. Proposed fabric-first upgrades will successfully raise most of the assessment flats from ratings as low as F into the target EPC C band, with significant improvements projected across the property.
This provides The Passage with a costed and PAS 2035-compliant plan to not only meet future MEES requirements but, most importantly, to provide warmer and more energy-efficient homes for their residents. The improvements will ensure maximum efficiency for the new heating systems and reduce heat loss, directly benefiting those living in Bentley House.
Plan Your MEES Compliance and Retrofit Strategy
Managing a portfolio of properties requires a long-term strategy to meet evolving Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. Our retrofit consultancy services provide a costed, fabric-first pathway to improving your housing stock, reducing energy costs and providing warmer homes for residents.
Whether you are a social housing provider, landlord, or property manager, we can help you build a decarbonisation plan for your buildings with our retrofit feasibility studies.
Contact our team today to discuss a portfolio assessment and secure compliance with Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards.
