Ashford Borough Council are introducing ground source heat pumps into their social housing for the first time with 74 homes across Appledore and Charing set to benefit.
This £2.2 million initiative is part of a wider £11.3 million retrofit programme aimed at improving energy efficiency in around 700 council homes. Funded through the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2 (£5.1 million) and supported by a £6.2 million council investment, the programme has already delivered upgrades such as insulation, new windows and doors, air source heat pumps, and solar panels over the past 18 months.
The council is partnering with heat pump specialists Kensa to install the systems. Work involves drilling multiple boreholes approximately 100m deep, where pipe networks are inserted to extract naturally stored heat from the ground. A water-antifreeze solution circulates through these pipes, absorbing ground heat. The energy is then processed by a compact Kensa Shoebox heat pump inside each home, which boosts the temperature to provide heating and hot water via a conventional radiator system.
The new systems are replacing oil, electric, and gas heating in the homes and completion is expected by summer.
Cllr Noel Ovenden, Council Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing, 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.”
Cabinet member for Climate Change, Cllr Steve Campkin, 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. I’m very excited about this project.’
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.’
Craig Godden, a resident in Heathside in Appledore commented: ‘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.”
Another resident, Julie Gill added: ‘I had no hesitation in signing up for it. My house is due to done in June and I can’t wait.’
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