Overview
As part of Longhurst Group’s wider decarbonisation strategy, Henman Dunn was appointed to replace an ageing electric storage heating system with a modern air source heat pump solution within an occupied social housing bungalow in Nassington, Peterborough.
The objective of the project was to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and lower heating costs for the resident, whilst supporting the client’s long-term net zero ambitions. Delivered through funding secured under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), the project formed part of a wider programme of retrofit works designed to improve the energy performance of existing housing stock and provide residents with more efficient, future-ready heating systems.
Following a detailed property survey and room-by-room heat loss assessment, our team designed and installed a complete low-carbon heating solution including a new heat pump, hot water cylinder, upgraded heating distribution system and modern heating controls. Throughout the project, close communication was maintained with the resident via a dedicated Resident Liaison Officer, ensuring they remained informed and supported throughout every stage of the installation.
Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund
This project was delivered under the SHDF — a government-backed programme funding the upgrade of social housing properties to low-carbon heating technologies, helping reduce bills for residents and supporting housing providers in meeting their net zero targets.
The property prior to works — a 2-bed bungalow in Nassington with no gas connection and electric storage heaters throughout
What We Did
Challenges
As with many occupied retrofit projects, successful delivery relied upon balancing technical requirements with the day-to-day needs of the resident. The property contained a significant amount of furniture and personal belongings, limiting access to several areas required for the installation. In addition, the existing heating system required substantial upgrading to ensure compatibility with the lower operating temperatures associated with heat pump technology.
Finding Space for the Cylinder
The existing airing cupboard could not accommodate the new hot water cylinder, buffer vessel and associated components. Following consultation with the client and resident, an alternative design was developed — locating all equipment within the loft space to keep the internal living areas completely clear.
The project also required coordination with the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO). Whilst the selected Samsung heat pump falls within connect-and-notify requirements, an upgrade to the property’s incoming electrical fuse was required before installation could proceed. Henman Dunn managed this process directly, ensuring all works were completed safely and in full compliance with current regulations.
As this was the resident’s first experience of renewable heating technology, ensuring they fully understood how to operate and benefit from the new system was another important element of the project.
The Solution
Working closely with the resident throughout the installation, our engineers adapted the programme to suit the property’s layout and available working space. Where furniture and belongings restricted access, we worked collaboratively with the resident to create temporary working areas, carefully moving items as each stage of the installation progressed. Despite these challenges, the installation was completed within the planned two-day programme.
Following the survey, our team developed a bespoke loft-based plant room design to house the new cylinder, buffer vessel and all associated equipment. Our engineers constructed a dedicated access walkway and support platform within the loft space, carefully routing all pipework to minimise visual impact within the property. This approach delivered a clean, unobtrusive installation whilst preserving the resident’s internal storage space entirely.
The Samsung 5kW Mono R32 Gen6 heat pump installed to the rear of the property, compact and positioned for optimal airflow
Cylinder, buffer vessel and full pipework installation housed neatly within the loft space (Prior to the installation of pipework insulation)
The installation was completed within the planned two-day programme — with the resident expressing their appreciation for the care, support and flexibility shown by the team throughout.
New Heating Distribution
As the property had no existing wet heating distribution system, new Stelrad panel radiators were installed throughout all rooms. Each radiator was sized against the room-by-room heat loss calculations to ensure the system could maintain comfortable temperatures at the lower flow temperatures at which heat pumps operate most efficiently.
New radiator — bedroom 1
New radiator — bedroom 2
Resident Engagement & Handover
Resident engagement formed a key part of the project’s success. As several neighbouring properties had already received similar upgrades as part of the wider SHDF programme, the resident had already spoken with other tenants and gained valuable first-hand insight into how heat pump systems operate in practice.
Following completion, our engineers carried out a comprehensive handover covering system operation, heating controls, hot water scheduling and routine maintenance requirements. The resident was shown how to adjust temperature settings, modify heating programmes, reset the system and top up system pressure if required.
Our 10-Point Resident User Guide
To further support residents unfamiliar with renewable heating systems, Henman Dunn developed a simple 10-point guide explaining day-to-day operation of the system. The guide was extremely well received and has since become part of our standard handover process for all future renewable heating projects.
Environmental & Financial Impact
3.59
Predicted SCOP Performance
£618/yr
Estimated Annual Running Cost
£1,400/yr
Estimated Annual Saving Post-Install
3.5 tonnes
Annual CO² Saving
E → C
EPC Rating Improvement*
SHDF
Funding Source
*EPC improvement was achieved alongside new cavity and loft insulation installed as part of the same SHDF programme.
“Big thank you to Micky, Sam, Will and all the team at Henman Dunn for installing our new central heating system. All the guys worked so hard and helped move our furniture around the bungalow as we didn’t have enough space and nothing was too much trouble to them. We are really pleased with the new heat pump and our bungalow has never been as warm as it is now. We have saved a fortune on our electricity bill since the storage heaters were removed, and we are really happy we decided to have the work done in the end. Henman Dunn are a breath of fresh air and a credit to Longhurst.”
