Insulation, solar and heat pumps across the Medway towns — from Chatham terraces to Hoo new-builds

Chatham's terraced stock is typically solid-brick, built pre-1930, with no cavity to fill. The right fix is solid wall insulation — either external (EWI), which renders over the brick and adds around 90mm of insulation outside, or internal (IWI), which adds an insulated stud wall inside. EWI delivers better thermal performance and doesn't reduce internal floor space, but it changes the external appearance — in Chatham's conservation areas we handle the planning application. ECO4 funds the full install for eligible households.

In most cases, yes. The vast majority of Gillingham and Rainham semis built between 1920 and 1985 have unfilled cavity walls that lose around a third of the home's heat. Under ECO4, homeowners on a qualifying benefit — or in EPC D-G homes — get cavity wall insulation fully funded. GBIS covers most D-G homes in council tax bands A-D without the benefit requirement. The install itself takes a single day; a crew drills small holes in the mortar joints, blows in mineral wool or bead, and makes good.

Yes — and off-gas Hoo properties are where heat pumps deliver the best savings. Parts of the Hoo peninsula (Grain, Allhallows, parts of Cliffe) are off the mains gas grid and still on oil, LPG or electric heating. An air-source heat pump on a reasonably-insulated Hoo 3-bed can cut annual heating costs by £600-£1,200 compared to oil. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays £7,500 off the install regardless of income. Installation takes 2-3 days on site; grant approval runs 3-4 weeks.

Rochester has extensive conservation areas around the cathedral, High Street and Restoration House — and many Grade II listed Georgian and Victorian properties. For conservation-area homes we use render and cladding finishes that match the local vernacular and submit planning applications on your behalf; EWI is often permitted where it preserves or improves the character of the property. Listed buildings need full Listed Building Consent, which we manage end to end. Internal wall insulation and roof-integrated solar are our go-to solutions where external changes aren't permitted.

It depends heavily on the starting point. A Gillingham 1930s semi with unfilled cavities saves £300-£500/year after cavity wall insulation alone. A Chatham Victorian terrace with full external wall insulation saves £400-£800/year. A Hoo peninsula 3-bed switching from oil to an air-source heat pump saves £600-£1,200/year. Adding solar plus a 5 kWh battery typically saves another £400-£700/year regardless of location. Your surveyor will model the specific savings for your property.