Progress Housing Group completes first phase of low-carbon heating upgrades to Lancashire homes
Progress Housing Group completes first phase of low-carbon heating upgrades to Lancashire homes
A major retrofit programme bringing low-carbon heating and energy efficiency upgrades to social homes in Lancashire has completed its first phase, helping tenants reduce energy costs while improving home comfort and cutting carbon emissions.
Progress Housing Group has worked with Green Grant Installs (GGI) and Mitsubishi Electric to install heating upgrades, which consist of air source heat pumps, solar panels, insulation and ventilation, in 58 properties in Ilkley Avenue and Gisburn Avenue, in Lytham St Annes.
This initiative was made possible with investment by Progress Housing Group and funding support from the government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Warm Homes Social Housing Fund Wave 3. This was secured via the Group’s strategic partnership with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA), which is part of a wider North-West Consortium.
The project forms part of Progress Housing Group’s wider strategy to improve the energy performance of its homes and support the transition to low-carbon heating across its housing stock.
Partnership working played a critical role in the successful delivery of the scheme, particularly in overcoming planning and technical challenges associated with retrofit projects.
Mitsubishi Electric’s proactive approach and provision of advanced, quieter air source heat pumps were instrumental in meeting regulatory requirements and mitigating noise concerns, enabling Progress Housing Group to obtain planning permission and proceed without delay.
As a result of this collaborative effort, the programme was delivered on schedule, meeting the first-year grant funding deadline of 31 March 2026.
Kate Hudson, Head of Strategic Asset Management at Progress Housing Group, commented:
“The grant has been essential in facilitating this important upgrade, delivering tangible benefits for our tenants. The collaboration with Mitsubishi Electric and our contractors was vital in securing planning permission, and ensuring timely completion. We look forward to building on these partnerships in the next phase.”
Tenants are already reporting improvements in comfort and energy affordability following the upgrades.
Janet Nevin, who lives in a one-bedroom bungalow, said that she has noticed her energy bill reduce as she has been able to switch to a lower tariff.
She added: “It’s warm as soon as you walk through the front door. Absolutely brilliant, you can’t fault it. I’ve also noticed a difference in my energy bill.”
GGI has also made a commitment to social value, including donations to local food banks, provision of tenant care packages, employment support courses, and apprenticeship opportunities.
James Chaplen, Head of Product Marketing and Communications at Mitsubishi Electric, said:
“Projects such as this demonstrate the important role heat pump technology can play in decarbonising social housing while improving outcomes for residents.
“Collaboration across the supply chain is essential to delivering successful retrofit programmes at scale. By working closely with housing providers and installers, we can help ensure heat pump systems are designed and delivered to meet the needs of both residents and the built environment.”
The team at Progress Housing Group has now started work on the next phase, which will see upgrades to 61 properties in South Hey, Lytham St Annes.
ABOUT
Progress Housing Group owns and manages over 12,000 homes, mainly in the Lancashire area, providing affordable homes for rent, shared ownership, outright sales and independent living for over 55s, as well as delivering key worker accommodation in Lincolnshire as well as other housing related services.
RWP, the Group’s supported living business stream, is one of the UK’s leading providers of high-quality supported living for people with a learning disability, autistic people and those with a mental health condition. It has landlord responsibilities for over 4,000 supported living tenancies across the UK.
Key Unlocking Futures is the charitable arm of Progress Housing Group, providing prevention and critical support to people across Lancashire.
The Group also provides an award-winning telecare emergency personal alarm service, Progress Lifeline, which enables over 60,000 people across Lancashire and parts of the UK to live safely and independently in their own homes.
Progress Housing Group’s vision is to ‘have a positive impact on people and communities by providing high quality homes, supporting independence and creating opportunities’.
At Mitsubishi Electric, we have over 100 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products. We are a recognised world leader in the manufacture, marketing and sale of residential heating and have a range of renewable heating products available.
Our Ecodan range of air source heat pumps, manufactured in the UK, deliver efficient, renewable heating to homes. A perfect option for homeowners looking to upgrade to a more energy efficient home heating system; or housing developers looking for quality heat pumps and accompanying products for their housing development projects.
