Title:
Gloucester City Homes
Summary:
549 solar PV panels installed across a live NHS mental health hospital in Durham. Delivered to PAS2038, completed in 4 weeks with zero defects. Panels provide electricity to 5 separate wards across the hospital, with careful coordination throughout to ensure minimum disruption to day-to-day hospital operations.
£1.5m | SynZero | Gloucester
Services Delivered
- Assessment & Evaluation
- Design
- Project Coordination
- Installation
Delivery Approach
A blend of directly employed Synergize managers, supervisors and operatives was deployed alongside a framework of specialist subcontractors. A site manager was recruited specifically for the project from the local area and remained on site throughout the programme. Due to the project complexity, several external specialists were coordinated including structural engineers, retrofit specialists and electrical partners.
Challenges & Solutions
Resident Concerns Regular engagement with residents helped overcome the challenges of living in properties during major refurbishment works. Where one resident was concerned about scaffolding affecting light into their flat, seasonal effective disorder lamps were provided for use during the project.
Service Cables & EWI Installation A significant number of service cables running up the side of the building required a solution to contain them and future-proof the EWI. Working with electrical partners, an innovative cable containment system with removable lids was designed and installed, ensuring ease of access and protection for the external render.
Solar PV During surveys, existing solar PV was identified as being in poor condition and struggling to generate up to 85% of its capacity. Cost analysis and specifications were provided, enabling GCH to build a business case to replace it. An innovative anchor point system was also suggested, removing the need for costly scaffolding during future maintenance.
Project Success
All KPIs and targets relating to time, cost and customer satisfaction were met, and in some cases exceeded. All dwellings within scope were brought to EPC C rating or above. Local people were directly employed during the contract, bringing additional social value to the community. Due to the overall success of the project, Gloucester City Homes appointed Synergize to deliver a similar retrofit scope to a further 80 homes.
“Wow! What a lovely couple of blokes that did my windows! Matt and Danny were just the chaps I needed! Trustworthy, funny, great singing and what an amazing team! Very pleased… How they’ve juggled around the building in this state, it was truly fantastic!”
Resident at St Paul’s Court
Gloucester City Homes