From cold to cosy: retrofitting a Cotswold cottage

Trish and Tim’s Hook Norton home was draughty, patchy, and hard to heat. With support from Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, they transformed it into a warmer, greener cottage that’s ready for the future.

This end-of-terrace cottage sits in the village of Hook Norton, nestled in the beautiful Cotswolds. The building is a blend of old and new: the front half dating back to the 1800s, built from locally quarried ironstone, while the back was extended and modernised in the 1970s.

The patchwork construction created challenges. Parts of the house had no insulation, and single-glazed windows meant cold draughts throughout. Trish and Tim knew their home needed attention, but the scale of the work – and the thought of managing it all themselves – was daunting.

Motivations for the retrofit

The couple were motivated by both climate and comfort. A decade ago, their only option would have been a more efficient oil-fired boiler, which kept them tied to fossil fuels. As Trish explains, advances in technology finally made an air source heat pump a real alternative.

Comfort was just as important. With inconsistent temperatures, some rooms were freezing in winter and sweltering in summer. They also saw an opportunity to transform a downstairs playroom into a spacious kitchen, aligning lifestyle improvements with their energy goals.

Finding the right support

After struggling to find suitable tradespeople and coordinate the project themselves, Trish and Tim turned to Cosy Homes Oxfordshire. With our whole-home approach, they felt reassured they’d receive expert guidance without the stress of managing the work independently.

As Trish explains, “It was such a big job that it would be very difficult to live in the house at the same time as having the work done, so we needed to have people we could trust while we were away. We like employing local people, and Cosy Homes came highly recommended.”

The process began with a comprehensive home assessment and the development of a Whole House Plan. This confirmed that an air source heat pump was an excellent option for their needs. Cosy Homes Oxfordshire then worked with trusted contractors – including Cotswold Green Energy and Hook Norton Construction – to deliver the project seamlessly.

The impact of the retrofit

The retrofit achieved an estimated annual carbon saving of 3.2 tonnes of CO? equivalent. Key measures included:

• installing an air source heat pump
• upgrading insulation throughout the home
• replacing single-glazed windows to reduce heat loss

The results were immediate. The new kitchen, once the hottest room in summer, is now the coolest on warm days. In winter, underfloor heating keeps it cosy. The improved insulation has also made the home noticeably quieter – an unexpected but welcome benefit.