• Home: 3 bedroom, detatched bungalow
• Built: 1960s
• Drivers: Create a forever home, reduce allergies
• Measures: New extension, conversion of flat roof, solar photovoltaic and battery storage, new windows, cavity wall insulation, mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR), additional airtightness and draught proofing, loft insulation and electric vehicle charging.
• Funding: Self funded
• Key outcome: A fresher, warmer home with bills less than £50 per month.

Meet the householders

Hastings Close is a quiet suburban neighbourhood in Cheadle Hulme, populated by neat gardens and typically British 1960s-built bungalows. Our householders, a recently retired couple, inherited the bungalow as their ‘forever home’. However, on moving in it was clear the home required substantial renovation to meet the couple’s needs for comfort, health and future proofing. Addressing poor indoor air quality, to minimise allergies and health complications exacerbated by the move into the home, was a key concern. ‘It just felt very musty and close,’ they said.

Getting a home survey

They approached People Powered Retrofit for support in figuring out the most appropriate interventions and navigating a ‘confusing landscape of opinions and advice’. Without grant funding it was key to create a plan to carry out work in stages - as finances allowed. They wanted to avoid duplication of effort, manage costs, and strategically invest in measures to give them the biggest bang for their buck. 

With the help of People Powered Retrofit’s expert retrofit assessor Mark and the production of a detailed, costed retrofit plan, they prioritised competing needs, built confidence in an approach, and put together a clear vision setting out the potential of their bungalow. 

The timing of the project aligned with plans to extend the property, providing an opportunity to incorporate retrofit measures alongside the construction of a bedroom, bathroom and utility room. People Powered Retrofit enabled a more cohesive approach, ensuring that the extension and existing building performed holistically, resulting in a much higher quality of life.

Getting the work done

Hastings Close’s project was primarily managed by the householders themselves, to progress the project and ‘understand how their house was put together’ themselves. They worked closely with a local contractor who had previously completed work on friends and neighbours’ homes, and understood what they were trying to achieve.

Over the next few years, the householder steadily integrated: 

• Construction of an extension to provide a new bedroom, bathroom and utility space, built to current building regulations
• Conversion of the flat roof to a warm roof 
• Installation of solar photovoltaic panels on both east- and west-facing roof slopes, paired with a battery storage system
• Replacement of existing windows to a higher specification double glazing
• Removal of failed cavity wall insulation and installation of new insulation
• Targeted repair and maintenance works to address cold bridging

The work culminated in early 2026 with the installation of a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system within the loft to ensure good air quality and high environmental performance. 

They used an air pressure test before the works were completed to set a project goal around airtightness - a measure of how draughty the home is and in turn how suitable it is for their chosen ventilation approach. 

Outcomes and next steps

At the end of the project, gas and electricity are incredibly down to around £50 per month including the standing charge whilst in terms of air quality ‘it feels very fresh’. 

Though the project doesn’t currently feature a heat pump, the work carried out means that should they decide to install one in the future both upfront and ongoing costs will be minimalised. 

Overall, Hastings Close demonstrates the effectiveness of a measured, staged approach to retrofit in the absence of grant funding. By prioritising ventilation and fabric performance early on, the homeowners addressed the underlying causes of poor indoor air quality while establishing a foundation for future improvements.

The integration of retrofit measures with the extension works avoided fragmentation and ensured compatibility between old and new elements of the building. The result is a home better suited to the couple’s long-term needs, with improved comfort, air quality and energy performance, and a clear pathway for further decarbonisation.

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Get in touch

Interested in how you can improve your home? Thinking of taking on a retrofit project? Get in touch.

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