Pickard Properties has completed one of Leeds’ most sustainable small-scale apartment developments, investing £450,000 to transform a former nine-bed student HMO in Headingley into three highly energy-efficient, fully-electric homes powered by cutting-edge low-carbon technology.
The Leeds-based developer has installed an ultra-efficient KERS indoor heat-pump system as part of the refurbishment to the terraced property in Kirkstall Lane, a technology that recycles a constant 20°C of waste energy from within the building and converts it into low-cost renewable hot water.
Unlike traditional external air-source heat pumps, the KERS unit is located entirely indoors, making it ideally suited to terraced, tightly packed and conservation-area properties where external units are often impossible to site.
Pickard Properties says the project demonstrates how thousands of similar homes across Leeds and the wider UK private-rented sector could be decarbonised through thoughtful retrofit rather than full redevelopment.
Alongside the heat-pump installation, the building now operates as a fully electric property with no gas supply. Solar PV panels support the electrical systems, while smart Rointe Wi-Fi heaters, upgraded insulation and LED lighting further reduce energy use and running costs.
Simon Pickard, Director at Pickard Properties, said: “Leeds is full of older terraced and converted properties, where installing traditional heat pumps simply isn’t practical. Our goal with this £400,000 project was to show what’s possible when you apply innovative thinking to the retrofit challenge.
The KERS indoor heat-pump system is a genuine breakthrough, it enables us to remove gas entirely while giving residents reliable, renewable hot water at much lower cost.”
The refurbishment forms part of Pickard Properties’ wider sustainability strategy, which focuses on retrofit innovation, reducing carbon across its rental portfolio, and creating long-term, future-proof homes for Leeds residents.
Simon added: “Sustainability isn’t just about new builds. It’s also about breathing new life into older properties and upgrading them intelligently. This project provides a blueprint for how developers and landlords can deliver energy-efficient, low-carbon homes in even the most space-restricted buildings.”
The scheme at Kirkstall Lane features three premium apartments, two one-bed homes and one two-bed, designed for modern professional living, incorporating sustainable materials, full-fibre connectivity, EV charging and secure cycle storage.
