A long-standing partnership securing the future of homes across Wolverhampton
Project overview
Over a 15-year partnership with Wolverhampton Homes, we have helped secure the long-term future of thousands of homes across the city, modernising ageing properties and ensuring they remain safe, energy efficient and affordable to heat for generations to come.
Since 2013, we have supported the improvement of Wolverhampton Homes’ 22,500-property portfolio through a comprehensive programme of planned works, including kitchens and bathrooms, roofing, full electrical rewires, fire safety enhancements and complex retrofit projects.
Over the course of the partnership, we have delivered £183 million of planned works, generating significant social and economic value. More than £52.5 million has been spent with small and medium-sized enterprises, while £114 million has been reinvested locally. In 2024/25 alone, 80 per cent of project expenditure remained within the local economy, demonstrating our commitment to creating lasting value in the communities we serve.
Our approach has helped establish new standards for large-scale decarbonisation projects, with the programme receiving the National Housing Maintenance Forum’s Best Zero Carbon Initiative Award and providing a blueprint for the delivery of complex retrofit schemes across the UK.
Modernising Wolverhampton’s wartime homes at scale
Among the most challenging elements of the programme has been the transformation of Wolverhampton’s non-traditional housing stock, including Cornish, Orlit, BISF, Dennis Wild and Solid Wall properties. Originally constructed using pre-cast reinforced concrete to meet urgent post-war housing demand, these homes present unique technical challenges and require significantly more extensive interventions than standard brick-built properties.
While a typical retrofit can be completed in around four weeks, these properties required programmes of up to 12 weeks. Throughout the works, residents remained in their homes, with careful planning ensuring disruption was kept to a minimum.
Through the use of specialist techniques and innovative construction methods, ageing structures were transformed to perform to modern standards. New roofs, external wall insulation systems, windows, cladding and render were installed, fundamentally renewing the building fabric and creating homes that are warmer, more efficient and fit for the future.
Supported by match funding from the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.2, the programme represents one of the city’s most ambitious and technically complex retrofit initiatives.
A resident-first approach delivering exceptional satisfaction
Resident engagement has been central to the success of the programme. Through proactive communication and close collaboration with tenants, bespoke solutions were developed to meet individual needs and ensure residents felt informed and supported throughout the works.
Dedicated Resident Liaison Officers maintained regular contact with tenants, placing safety, wellbeing and customer experience at the heart of delivery. This resident-first approach resulted in an 86 per cent customer satisfaction score, while Wolverhampton Homes awarded the project an NPS score of 8.5 out of 10, with tenant engagement recognised as one of the programme’s greatest strengths.
Liaising with our customers is one of WPS’ key strengths and their ability to build relationships and engage with customers enables them to get access to customers’ homes, saving us time and money. They understand the importance of the customer journey, and we have complete trust in them to continue delivering high-quality services for us, and for our residents.”
Matt Beddoes
Head of Capital Works-Wolverhampton Homes
I just want to say thank you for all the hard work you have done on our flat. We are extremely pleased with the finish. We would like to thank Sean, Martin, Paul, Chloe and the team for going the extra mile, and we are also very pleased with all the operatives who carried out the work to such a high standard.”
Customer
Wolverhampton Homes
The positive impact of the programme has also been recognised by the community itself. In 2026, the project received the People’s Choice Award at the Aico Community Awards, an accolade voted for by local people which celebrates projects that have made a meaningful and lasting difference to the communities they serve.
Transforming high-rise homes for the future
Alongside the retrofit programme, we have delivered major improvements to Wolverhampton’s high-rise housing stock, enhancing safety, resilience and the quality of life for residents.
At Graiseley, we refurbished 124 homes across three tower blocks, undertaking extensive internal improvements including new kitchens, redecoration and cladding remediation. Significant fire safety upgrades were also delivered, including the installation of a new boosted cold-water system, sprinkler protection and replacement fire doors, ensuring every home meets modern safety standards.
Delivering works in occupied high-rise buildings presented unique challenges, with resident wellbeing and safety remaining paramount throughout. Through proactive communication and careful planning, we provided reassurance to tenants, clearly explaining timescales and upcoming works to minimise disruption. Residents particularly recognised the care taken by our teams and consistently praised the cleanliness and tidiness maintained within their homes.
At Merry Hill, we transformed a further 368 flats across three residential towers, improving building infrastructure and enhancing fire safety to create safer, more sustainable homes. The quality of delivery and our unwavering commitment to health and safety were recognised with a perfect 45/45 score from the Considerate Constructors Scheme.
Delivering lasting social value
The impact of our partnership extends far beyond the homes themselves. Through our long-standing relationship with Wolverhampton Homes, we have created significant social and economic value, helping to strengthen local communities and provide opportunities for future generations.
To date, the partnership has generated more than £120 million in social value, supported over 42,000 local students through education initiatives and created employment opportunities for more than 2,600 local people.
By investing in people alongside places, we continue to create a lasting legacy across Wolverhampton and ensure that the benefits of regeneration are felt throughout the community.
Through our resident-first approach, we have delivered complex programmes at scale while maintaining exceptional levels of customer care. By modernising and future-proofing homes across Wolverhampton, we have given residents the confidence that their homes will remain safe, energy efficient and affordable to heat for decades to come. The success of this partnership is testament to the collaboration between our teams, our supply chain and Wolverhampton Homes, all working towards a shared ambition to create better homes and stronger communities.”
