The property team have completed the major refurbishment of the vacant vicarage of St Mary the Virgin, Primrose Hill with St Paul, Avenue Road.

The ambition was to provide an exemplar of what is possible to achieve with a building of this age, in terms of improvement in thermal efficiency and associated reduction in running costs as well as supporting the ambition of the Diocese towards Net Zero Carbon by 2030. The property was built in mid 19th Century and is similar to many of the properties within the Diocese of London’s clergy housing portfolio. The learnings from this project will feed into our wider Housing Strategy.

The project has delivered significant improvement in thermal efficiency and associated reduction in running costs have been achieved through providing insulation to external walls, high-quality double-glazed sash windows throughout, and electric under floor heating to kitchen and bathroom areas. Solar panels and an air source heat pump provide power, heating and hot water.

The works took 10 months to complete in advance of the arrival of incoming new Incumbent, Father Phil Ritchie, and his family.

 

 

AT A GLANCE
What was done?
  • New electrical and mechanical services throughout.
  • New LED lighting throughout.
  • New modern kitchen units and appliances.
  • New modern bathrooms.
  • Electric underfloor heating to selected kitchen / bathroom areas.
  • Insulation provided internally to the external walls.
  • Installation of solar panels situated on the flat part of the roof.
  • New high-quality double-glazed sash windows.
  • Air source heat pump to provide heating and hot water.
Reasons for action?
  •  An opportunity to bring a house in poor repair, to a modernised family dwelling fit for ministry for the next 20+ years.
  • Provision of improved heating solutions including Underfloor heating and LED lighting which reduces energy use
  • Solar PV and air source heat pump to reduce CO2 emissions and energy bills
  • Insulation and double glazing to retain heat, lowering bills and emissions
Length of time
  • 10 months
Impact
  • EPC – Vicarage achieved a C having previously been assessed as an E.
Lessons learnt
 Planning consent took longer than we expected due to delays at the London Borough of Camden planning department.

Choice of contractor was crucial – we were fortunate to work with Gunning London Limited.