Warm Homes: Looking Ahead
Part of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Programme.
SHDF Project Overview
- 325+ Properties Retrofitted
- 3 Funding Waves Delivered
- 100% EPC Band C Achievement
- 96% Resident Satisfaction
- 0 RIDDOR Incidents
Appointed as Principal Contractor under the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), Aston Group has delivered two successive waves of large-scale, whole-house energy retrofit for the London Borough of Waltham Forest, with a third wave now under way - The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF - formerly known as SHDF Wave 3). Across Waves 1 and 2.2, we have been responsible for the energy performance upgrade of over 325 occupied properties, covering a diverse mix of house types and tenures.
This is one of the most significant retrofit programmes delivered by a single contractor in London. Every completed home has achieved a minimum EPC Band C, 96% of residents reported satisfaction with the works, and zero RIDDOR-reportable incidents have been recorded across the programme.
Our approach has been recognised nationally: we were commended by DESNZ, featured in a ministerial site visit showcasing best practice, and invited to present our delivery model to other local authorities preparing for SHDF.
The real impact of retrofit is seen in the everyday difference it makes to people’s lives, especially at a time when so many households continue to face rising energy costs.
The Challenge
Wave 3 commenced in January 2026, marking the next chapter in the programme. Waltham Forest is part of a consortium of 21 London partners sharing £77 million to improve social housing across the capital through to 2028.
Our scope includes Solar PV, loft insulation and improved ventilation systems, self-delivered by the Aston Group team. We began with the first five properties in Billericay, with a further 95 homes scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
The consortium model creates both stability and opportunity, with the potential to take on additional properties and expand our impact across London.
This phase represents the maturation of a model refined over five years. The survey framework, resident communication approach and supply chain coordination developed in Wave 1 are now embedded and scalable – allowing us to deliver at pace without compromising quality or compliance.
Successfully launched in 2026
The Social Housing Decarbonisation Programme in Waltham Forest is more than a retrofit project. With over 325 homes improved and the WH:SHF phase now under way, it is a demonstration of what is possible when a committed local authority and an experienced delivery partner work together with a shared goal.
From the 10 homes funded by the Carbon Offset Fund in 2020 to the 100-home Warm Homes Wave 3 programme (now known as WH:SHF), launched in January 2026, Aston Group has been a constant thread – bringing technical expertise, operational discipline and a genuine commitment to the people living in the homes we improve.
We are proud of what has been achieved and excited about what comes next. For other housing providers looking to build a similar programme, we hope this project overview is a useful starting point – and we are always happy to share what we have learned.
