Residents benefit from warmer homes and lower energy bills in Colchester
More than 100 homes across the borough receive energy efficiency retrofit upgrades through government scheme
Chappel residents Mick Tucker and Crysania Kelo have lived in their homes for fifteen and two years respectively.
However, for both, this winter is unlike any they’ve experienced before.
In January 2025, Crysania’s energy bills were as high as £500 a month.
When we visited Crysania less than a year later in December 2025, her energy bills were projected at closer to £100 per month.
That represents an 80 per cent decrease, after her property was transformed with energy efficient retrofit upgrades.
Crysania’s home received roof insulation, new windows, new doors and her faulty electric storage heaters – which were previously running 24/7 – were replaced with a new air source heat pump.
Crysania said: “I think that the biggest difference is the air source heat pump because I had faulty electric storage heaters.
“The heat is more evenly distributed and feels more natural.”
Although Crysania is still catching up on last winter’s bills, she said the upgrades have given her peace of mind that she won’t fall into more debt this winter.
Watch our short video interview with Crysania where she explains the difference the upgrades have made.
Down the road, Mick Tucker’s property received loft insulation and solar panels.
According to Mick, the biggest difference has been the insulation, which he notes has made it warmer in winter while helping it to stay cooler in summer.
He said: “I looked up about solar panels and what difference would it make if they were on my roof.
“Not much to me, to be fair, but definitely going to benefit somebody else somewhere - if not the country.”
Watch our short video interview with Mick, including his advice for anyone considering or who may be offered similar upgrades to their homes in the future.
The upgrades at both Mick and Crysania’s homes were enabled thanks to funding through the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.1.
It is delivered on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and assured by our teams at Salix.
A minimum of match funding through the housing provider, Colchester Borough Homes, which manages housing on behalf of the local council, Colchester Borough Council, is also a requirement of the scheme.
When the project is complete, the housing provider anticipates that a total of 102 properties will have received upgrades.
Matthew Swingwood, asset manager at Colchester Borough Homes, said: “We have taken over 100 of our lowest-performing properties from sub-EPC-C ratings to over that threshold, improving thermal comfort and energy efficiency for these residents, and educated many on how they may better use their homes in the future.
“We know that many of our residents are very well informed and want to be assured that they are living in homes that are fit for purpose, are affordable and are not left in a condition that may ultimately become detrimental to their health and wellbeing.”
With the works funded through Wave 2.1 of the scheme nearly complete, the council and housing provider are now looking to extend it further.
They want to benefit more residents and progress towards both their EPC-C 2030 target for homes and 2050 target for net zero.
Martin Norgett, strategic client for asset management at Colchester Borough Council, said: “Our focus is on energy efficiency and benefits to our tenants in the form of reducing their utility bills.
“We are on target to reach EPC-C by 2030 and have a commitment in our proposed asset management strategy, that all improvements to our homes will work to the principle of ‘energy related investment.”
During our visit, we spoke with Ben Payne, senior retrofit advisor at Colchester Borough Homes, who was a critical contact point for residents receiving upgrades through the programme.
Watch our short video to hear more about the project and why it’s so important for residents from Ben.
The council, housing provider, contractor and residents themselves all agree that a key element of project success was the collective focus on resident engagement as a critical element of programme delivery.
Jamie Wells, operations manager at contractor TSG, said: “The programme has not only boosted energy performance but has helped reduce fuel poverty, enhance wellbeing, and show residents that retrofit measures can make a tangible difference to their lives.
“Many residents have told us their homes feel noticeably warmer and more comfortable, with far fewer draughts and condensation issues.
“Several have also said they now have a much better understanding of how their homes work and how to use the new systems day to day to get the most out of them.
“A big part of this has been the way residents were supported throughout the process. Time was taken to visit residents before works started, keep in regular contact while works were underway and provide clear, practical handovers once installations were complete.
“This helped residents feel informed and reassured at every stage.”
The programme has not only boosted energy performance but has helped reduce fuel poverty, enhance wellbeing, and show residents that retrofit measures can make a tangible difference to their lives.
