Baths Court Refurbishment – Award-Winning Retrofit Heating and Hot Water Project
eleXion is proud to have supported Notting Hill Genesis, FairHeat and Watkins Plumbing & Heating on the Baths Court refurbishment, winner of Residential Energy Project of the Year at The Energy Awards 2026
Baths Court is a sheltered residential development in Shepherd’s Bush, London, providing 32 homes for older residents and managed by Notting Hill Genesis.
The £1.2 million retrofit involved the full replacement of the building’s ageing heat network, including new plant, distribution pipework and individual heating interface units throughout the occupied development. The existing four-pipe network was replaced with a new two-pipe system serving all 32 apartments. The project was part-funded through the Government’s Heat Network Efficiency Scheme.
As part of the wider sustainability strategy, FairHeat and Notting Hill Genesis adopted a chemical-free approach to corrosion protection and long-term water quality management, supported by eleXion and Watkins Plumbing & Heating.
The Challenge
Baths Court’s original heating system was more than 40 years old, inefficient and approaching the end of its useful life.
A key challenge was delivering the replacement heat network while the building remained fully occupied. The phased installation needed to minimise disruption to residents while maintaining control of system water quality throughout the works.
The new system also required long-term corrosion protection without relying on traditional chemical inhibitors, with the water treatment approach needing to support both commissioning and ongoing system performance.
The Solution
FairHeat, working on behalf of Notting Hill Genesis, explored a chemical-free water treatment approach for ongoing corrosion protection and water quality management.
eleXion reviewed the proposed system layouts and refurbishment design, assessed the local mains water conductivity and advised on the water treatment equipment required for the project.
Recommendations also covered remedial and pre-commissioning works, system refilling and temporary inline conditioning with filtration to suit the phased installation programme.
The system incorporated:
- 1 × Elector M25 for ongoing chemical-free corrosion protection
- 1 × ioniX FS 25 for system filling and water conditioning
- an estimated 4,000-litre communal LTHW system volume
eleXion also attended site throughout the installation to support Watkins and FairHeat, worked alongside the commissioning team during system refilling and carried out the inline conditioning works on behalf of Watkins.
This helped establish the required low-conductivity water conditions from commissioning while providing a structured approach to ongoing corrosion protection.
The Outcome
The completed system was fully conditioned and achieved the project’s required water quality targets, including the requirements of VDI 2035.
The project also achieved performance beyond the BG50 targets being applied and the water quality criteria FairHeat was working towards in preparation for the forthcoming HNTAS guidance for depleted water systems.
Final water quality monitoring demonstrated:
- dissolved oxygen comfortably below required limits
- low and stable conductivity
- stable pH
- no increasing trend in dissolved metals
- stable, non-corrosive system water conditions
- no requirement for ongoing chemical inhibitor dosing
The project went on to win Residential Energy Project of the Year at The Energy Awards 2026.
The judging panel highlighted the project as a well-evidenced and well-managed retrofit that demonstrated how residential buildings can reduce energy consumption, carbon emissions and maintenance costs while improving resident comfort.
The experience gained at Baths Court is also being used as a model for similar Notting Hill Genesis schemes, with chemical-free water treatment and corrosion protection being considered across the wider portfolio.oach can support retrofit heat network schemes when the system is correctly set up, monitored and maintained.
