£9.5m Liverpool retrofit project to improve 343 homes through Fusion21’s Decarbonisation Framework

Onward Homes is using Fusion21’s Decarbonisation Framework to deliver a £9.5 million retrofit programme across 343 terraced homes in Kirkdale and Walton, Liverpool. Appointed contractor Sustainable Building Services (SBS) is carrying out fabric-first improvements designed to raise the homes to EPC band C or better, make energy bills more manageable and improve thermal comfort for residents.

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Onward Homes retrofit project: key facts

• Location: Kirkdale and Walton, Liverpool
• Homes: 343 terraced homes built between 100 and 150 years ago
• Investment: £9.5 million
• Procurement route: Fusion21’s Decarbonisation Framework, Lot 1: Whole House Decarbonisation
• Delivery partner: Sustainable Building Services (SBS)
• Target: EPC band C or better
• Expected completion: March 2028

The challenge: decarbonising 343 older Liverpool homes

Housing association Onward Homes required a fast, compliant and efficient route to market to deliver a decarbonisation scheme for more than 300 properties in the Kirkdale and Walton areas of Liverpool.

Key challenges included:

• Delivering retrofit works in 343 terraced homes built between 100 and 150 years ago
• Raising all properties to EPC band ‘C’ or better
• Providing tangible social impact within the local community.

The approach: compliant procurement through Fusion21’s Decarbonisation Framework

Onward Homes accessed Fusion21’s Decarbonisation Framework (Lot 1: Whole House Decarbonisation) to appoint an experienced delivery partner for this £9.5m scheme

Through the framework:

• Fusion21 supplier Sustainable Building Services (SBS) was appointed from a pre-qualified supply chain
• Funding was secured through the government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (Wave 3)
• Social impact was achieved through various local initiatives, including work experience placements with SBS

This approach enabled:

• Streamlined, fully compliant procurement
• A fabric-first approach to ensure homes can be heated more efficiently and remain warm for longer
• Cost savings achieved through a single contractor adopting a whole-house approach.

Ian Jones, Regional Director at SBS said: “Residents have been sharing positive feedback on the immediate impacts, from thermal comfort to greater soundproofing and improved property appearance, which is further motivation to leave areas in a better state than we entered them.”

The outcomes: energy efficiency, resident benefits and social value

The first phases of the retrofit project were completed on time in May 2026, and the full programme is expected to be completed in March 2028. Improvements delivered across the 343 homes include:

• Cavity wall insulation
• Loft insulation
• Replacement doors and windows
• Ventilation upgrades
• Roof alterations and extensions.

These improvements have been designed to deliver:

• More manageable energy bills for residents
• Improved thermal comfort and living conditions
• Progress towards local and national decarbonisation targets.
• The scheme also delivered the following social value outcomes:
• Two local labourers have been employed on the project through Everton in the Community
• 60% of the total workforce employed on the project are from the local region. This includes the majority of SBS’ Project Management team and covers roles such as Customer Liaison Officer, Regional Director, Commercial Manager, Quantity Surveyor, Operations Manager and Renderers.

Phil Thompson, Major Projects Manager at Onward Homes said: “SBS is a very reputable contractor in the retrofit industry, with a significant amount of knowledge and experience. Having SBS to lean on and maintaining a working relationship with them has been brilliant so far. I’m looking forward to working with them through the next phases of this project.”

Retrofit project proof points

• Decarbonisation delivered at scale with almost 350 homes being upgraded across Kirkdale and Walton
• Delivered through Fusion21’s Decarbonisation Framework
• Employment opportunities provided to deliver social value impact

Start a housing retrofit programme with Fusion21

Fusion21 helps housing associations and other social housing providers procure and deliver large-scale decarbonisation and whole-house retrofit programmes through a compliant framework and pre-qualified supply chain. The framework supports faster procurement, lower delivery risk and measurable energy-efficiency, resident and social value outcomes.

Find out more about our Decarbonisation Framework here.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Onward Homes retrofit project in Liverpool?

It is a £9.5 million decarbonisation scheme improving 343 terraced homes in Kirkdale and Walton. The programme is designed to raise the homes to EPC band C or better and improve energy efficiency and thermal comfort for residents.

Which framework was used to procure the retrofit work?

Onward Homes used Lot 1: Whole House Decarbonisation of Fusion21’s Decarbonisation Framework to appoint Sustainable Building Services from a pre-qualified supply chain.

What improvements are included in the retrofit programme?

The programme includes cavity wall and loft insulation, replacement doors and windows, ventilation upgrades, and roof alterations and extensions.

How is the Liverpool retrofit project funded?

Funding was secured through the government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3.

When will the Onward Homes retrofit programme be completed?

The first phases were completed in May 2026. The full retrofit programme is expected to be completed in March 2028.

Start a housing retrofit programme with Fusion21

Fusion21 helps housing associations and other social housing providers procure and deliver large-scale decarbonisation and whole-house retrofit programmes through a compliant framework and pre-qualified supply chain. The framework supports faster procurement, lower delivery risk and measurable energy-efficiency, resident and social value outcomes.

Find out more about our Decarbonisation Framework here.