Retrofit work shortlisted for Housing Innovation Awards

Great news! First Choice Homes Oldham has been shortlisted for another sector award, this time for our Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) wave two retrofit programme.

We are one of ten on a shortlist for the Best Retrofit Innovation or Project at the Housing Innovation Awards 2026.

The recently completed £5.4 million programme saw 470 properties at Failsworth, Chadderton and Royton retrofitted over a two-year period. This incorporated innovative technologies to improve energy efficiency and make homes warmer, while lowering tenants’ bills and supporting wider decarbonisation goals.

Work undertaken included triple glazing, improved insulation, smart heating controls, low energy lighting and solar panels.

The initiative, undertaken in partnership with contractor Connolly Ltd, is part of our mission to ensure all of our homes have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C rating by 2030.

The winners will be announced at an event at The ICC in Birmingham on 4 February next year.