Right-Sized Grid Capacity for 37 Homes at West Hill Road
Lower capex, lower standing charges, same reliability—documented and repeatable.
Hourly profiles, clear assumptions, defendable outcomes
Cost & Viability {#cost}
By right-sizing the network and downstream equipment, we cut avoidable scope and spend, removing the need for a plant room and reshaping package costs. The approach wasn’t a haircut; it was a redesign backed by data—optioning scenarios in the Hubb.Pro platform to evidence lower real-world demand than the customer’s initial, standards-based budget assumed.
The result: controlled capex, cleaner OPEX exposure, and a scheme brought under its original budget through a joined-up utilities-and-MEP strategy delivered with a softer, clarity-first approach.
£100,000 capex avoided: Project brought under the initial budget by right-sizing the connection and equipment.
Ancillary savings unlocked: Plant room removed, simplifying civils, fit-out, and future O&M while preserving compliance.
Evidence over assumption: Data-optioning in Hubb.Pro justified a smaller capacity set-point than industry-standard allowances, reducing overall power requirements without compromising headroom.
Capacity & Right-Sizing {#capacity}
We replaced allowance-driven sizing with an integrated utilities-and-MEP method: a “softer” workshop-led approach that joins design intent with real usage. Hourly simulation profiling showed the site didn’t need the initial 200 kVA estimate; the evidence supported a 96 kVA set-point—about a 50% reduction—while preserving headroom.
We followed a three-part path: baseline the scheme, model capacity and right-size the plant, then lock the optimum configuration with transparent assumptions. A key differentiator was right-sizing heating and hot-water plant alongside the electrical envelope, so thermal and electrical peaks align without overspecifying kit.
Evidence over allowances: Hourly profiles cut the estimate from 200 kVA → 96 kVA (~50%), maintaining resilience and compliance.
Three-stage method: Baselining (plots, heat strategy, fabric) → Capacity & right-sizing (diversity, EV/thermal overlays, sensitivities) → Optimum set-point with documented assumptions.
Utilities × MEP clarity: The “softer”, integrated process ensured heating/DHW plant was sized with the electrical envelope—lower capex, cleaner OPEX, fewer redesigns.
Compliance & Standards {#compliance}
We used a “softer” governance-led approach—joining utilities and MEP early—so compliance wasn’t an afterthought but the frame for design. The scheme is aligned to the 2022 Building Regulations with explicit cross-checks to Part F (ventilation), Part L (conservation of fuel and power), and Part S (EV charge points).
Equipment selections were validated against the client’s SAP targets, ensuring the delivered homes achieve the expected EPC outcomes. All assumptions are traceable, and the evidence is packaged for each decision-maker.
Auditable trail, ready for Building Control: Versioned inputs, hourly profiles, calc notes and clause-level cross-references to Parts F/L/S; SAP inputs and EV counts called out; a change log so reviewers can follow the logic from data to decision.
Clear narrative for DNO/IDNO and procurement: One evidence pack with set-point rationale, options table, specification extracts and a comparability matrix, so tenders line up and utility feedback addresses the same assumptions.
Contextualised information for each actor: Concise one-pagers tailored to Client/Exec, MEP/Designer, Building Control, DNO/IDNO, and Contractor/O&M—each gets what they need (KPIs, obligations, submittals), preventing over- or under-specification.
EV-Ready Without Upsizing {#ev}
We took a joined utilities-and-MEP, “softer” approach that meets regulatory EV requirements without inflating the transformer.
Provision is set by what’s required (not “where it matters”), and load is diversified smartly: chargers are modelled with high simultaneity assumptions, then governed by dynamic load management so headroom is protected while residents get simple, reliable access.
EV compliance, evidenced: Charger counts and cable routes sized to meet regulatory minimums, with schedules and drawings that show which dwellings/ bays are served now, which are pre-provisioned, and how landlord vs. allocated supplies are treated—ready for Building Control sign-off.
Spare capacity built-in: Ducts/containment and risers include spare ways; boards allow future MCB positions; wayleaves and labels are in place so adding chargers is low-friction (no fresh civils), and the electrical envelope stays within the right-sized set-point.
Plug-and-play for residents: Pre-wired spurs and termination points, with commissioning checklists, metering CTs and OCPP-capable back-end compatibility—so chargers can be added or swapped without design rework; dynamic load rules keep peaks inside the diversified allowance.
Delivery & DNO/IDNO Pack {#delivery}
We assembled a single evidence pack that a developer can lift straight into the Point of Connection (PoC) application—joining utilities and MEP so assumptions, loads, and plant selections line up. The narrative clearly separates roles and obligations for the DNO, ICP, and IDNO, so each actor gets the right data to do their job: the DNO can assess capacity quickly, the IDNO can price a realistic Asset Value (AV), and the ICP can competitively tender installation without ambiguity.
It’s a governance-led, “softer” delivery—clarity first, right-sized outcomes, fewer rounds of rework.
DNO-ready submission (PoC clarity): Load envelopes (hourly/seasonal), diversity and EV rules, after-diversity maximum demand (ADMD), fault levels, export/import stance, and substation siting options—cross-referenced to drawings and a change log so planners can trace input → outcome.
IDNO commercial pack (credible AV): Firmed set-point and headroom rules, LV/HV topology, metering strategy, easements/land rights status, and lifecycle notes—enough to model losses and whole-life costs and return a defensible Asset Value and adoption scope.
ICP tender baseline (buildable detail): Cable routes, duct/containment schedules with spare ways, protection settings envelope, boards/switchgear schedules, phasing plan, and a comparability matrix—so contractors quote like-for-like and the client sees true deltas, not assumption drift.
Comfort, Carbon & Resilience {#outcomes}
We took a curated, whole-home MEP strategy that joins utilities and building services in a softer, clarity-first way. The aim was simple: comfortable homes that are easy to control, with plant sized to true demand so energy use and losses stay low and components suit the coastal context.
The selections, controls and documentation align—so residents get quiet efficiency, not complexity.
Carbon (lower by design): Right-sized plant cuts standing losses and avoids the embodied carbon of oversized kit; distribution runs and controls are specified to minimise parasitic load without compromising performance.
Comfort (felt by the homeowner): Heat/hot-water plant and emitters are matched to realistic profiles; controls are simplified (clear set-points, time-blocks, and fault prompts) so comfort is consistent and easy to manage.
Resilience (fit for place): An internal exhaust-air heat pump was chosen to mitigate salt-air corrosion risk near the coast; enclosure, filtration and maintenance access are designed for longevity and straightforward servicing.
Cut avoidable upgrade costs
Right-size loads, leverage AAV where it helps, and avoid paying for capacity you do not need. Leave the session with a decision-grade summary you can share with partners.