Progress Housing Group invests £600k in heating upgrades for Lancashire homes
Up to 120 homes across Lancashire are set to benefit from more reliable, efficient heating as part of a £600,000 investment by Progress Housing Group.
Progress Housing Group has appointed Broad Oak through Lot 1 of CHIC’s Mechanical and Electrical Framework to deliver a three year programme of plant room upgrades, starting in October 2026.
At least three plant rooms will be upgraded, with one scheme planned each year. The programme will replace ageing boiler room equipment and introduce improved heating controls within individual flats, giving residents greater control over the temperature of their homes.
Improving residents’ everyday experience
Progress Housing Group identified the plant rooms for investment because of the age and condition of the existing systems, with the programme designed to reduce the risk of failures and improve efficiency.
For residents, the improvements are expected to mean fewer breakdowns and reactive repairs, reduced energy consumption and better control over their heating. Based on previous projects, energy efficiency improvements of around 20% could also be achieved.
Keeping disruption to a minimum will be a key priority. Temporary boiler rooms will be provided while work takes place, helping to minimise heating downtime.
Residents will also be kept informed throughout the programme. The project team will work with scheme managers and attend resident coffee mornings to explain the works and answer questions, while Broad Oak will provide a dedicated point of contact throughout.
A straightforward route to market
Progress Housing Group used CHIC’s framework to directly award the contract to Broad Oak, whose previous performance with Progress has been exemplary.
The framework provided a compliant and efficient route to market, saving Progress Housing Group the time and internal resource that would have been required through an alternative procurement process.
CHIC supported Progress Housing Group with guidance to ensure the correct process was followed, helping the organisation move efficiently from identifying the need for investment to appointing an experienced contractor.
This is the first project Progress Housing Group has delivered with Broad Oak through CHIC and the contract will also generate social value alongside the planned improvements.
With the first scheme due to start in October 2026, the programme demonstrates how a straightforward procurement process can translate into meaningful improvements for residents – delivering more reliable heating as we enter into the winter period.
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