Kensa and Ashford Borough Council break ground on landmark heat pump project
- Social Housing
- 4 min read
Kensa has broken ground on a landmark project for Ashford Borough Council, retrofitting 74 rural council homes with its highly efficient, British-made ground source heat pumps.
The installation will be the first time the council has fitted ground source heat pumps in its residential properties and marks the beginning of a wider programme to retrofit 700 homes with energy-saving measures.
Kensa’s highly efficient, compact 
ShoeboxProductShoebox ground source heat pumps will be installed in each of the retrofitted homes in the villages of Appledore and Charing. These will replace a mix of oil-fired, electric and gas heating systems in some of the council’s most energy-inefficient rural properties. The systems will harness renewable heat from the ground to deliver low-cost renewable heating and hot water for each home.
The project follows other energy efficiency improvements already delivered by the Council over the past 18 months, including cavity wall insulation, fitting new windows and doors, solar panels and renewable heating.
The project is part-funded by Wave 2 of the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (now replaced with the 
Warm Homes: Social Housing FundFundingWarm Homes: Social Housing Fund), alongside significant council investment.
To decarbonise heating for these properties, Kensa is drilling multiple boreholes and connecting the homes to its 
A decarbonisation solution for over 60% of UK homesNetworked Heat Pumpsnetworked heat pump system, enabling them to access the natural, renewable heat stored in the ground. The Shoebox heat pump will upgrade this heat, providing highly energy-efficient heating and hot water through a traditional central heating system.
The 74 properties in Appledore and Charing will be the latest social homes to receive low-cost, low-carbon heating from Kensa’s networked heat pump system. Notable projects include a 273-flat retrofit installation in 
Chadwell St Mary's, Thurrock CouncilCase StudyThurrock and 81 100-year-old flats in Kensington, 
Central London retrofitCase StudyCentral London.
Ashford’s ground source heat pump project – in just 1 minute
Cllr Noel Ovenden, Council Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing at Ashford Borough Council, said:
These measures will cut carbon emissions, help reduce energy demand and give residents more money in their pockets from cheaper energy bills. We’re working closely with our tenants to ensure they understand how the GSHP systems work and to recognise the tremendous benefits they will enjoy because of these exciting improvements.
Embracing ground source heat pump technology is an exciting first for Ashford Borough Council and I’m confident it will transform tenants’ lives by boosting energy security, saving money and providing a warmer and more comfortable home for them to enjoy.
In addition to these life-changing benefits for tenants, the upgrades to our most energy-inefficient rural homes will help the council with our ambition to become a carbon neutral borough by 2030.
Cllr Steve Campkin, Cabinet Member for Climate Change at Ashford Borough Council, said:
We’ve been working hard to reduce carbon emissions in a way that benefits people in very real ways, and the most direct way is low carbon heating in properly insulated homes. The move towards renewables and a carbon-free society has benefits above and beyond carbon reduction and makes sense regardless of climate change. It’s also a matter of UK energy independence and national security. I’m very excited about this project.
Ashford Borough Council residents in Heathside, Appledore, are looking forward to getting a ground source heat pump. They said:
Craig Godden
“I think this is a great idea. Our electric storage heaters are expensive to run and I’m looking forward to saving the pennies and have a warmer, more comfortable home.”
Julie Gill
I had no hesitation in signing up for it. My house is due to be done in June and I can’t wait.
Peter Simpson
Storage heaters are costing me a fortune so this is a very good idea. My daughter is jealous that I’m getting ground source heat pumps fitted.
Stuart Gadsden, Commercial Director at Kensa, said:
We’re excited to collaborate with Ashford on this brilliant project, helping to decarbonise their properties while providing residents with a reliable, highly efficient low-carbon heating solution.
Our ground source heat pumps are among the most energy-efficient and sustainable heating options available and, depending on the system they replace, residents could benefit from significantly lower energy bills and a heavily reduced carbon footprint. We have a proven track record of installing our British-made heat pumps in thousands of social homes and are looking forward to extending these benefits to even more residents through this initiative with Ashford.
