BH19
Eco home upgrades in Swanage
Purbeck stone cottages, Victorian seaside villas and bungalows with bay views: Swanage has a home style all its own. We will match you with up to 3 vetted local installers.
Upgrades for Swanage homes
Solar panels in Swanage
A typical 4 kWp system costs £6,000 to £8,500 and can save around £550 to £900 a year.
Battery storage in Swanage
A 5 to 10 kWh home battery costs £3,500 to £7,000 and helps you use more of your own solar.
Air source heat pumps in Swanage
Typically £10,500 to £15,500 fitted, with a £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant off the price.
Home EV chargers in Swanage
A 7 kW home charger typically costs £800 to £1,200 fitted and is far cheaper than public charging.
What each upgrade looks like in Swanage
Solar panels
Many Swanage homes, especially bungalows and estates on the hillsides, have open roofs and good sun. Older Purbeck stone tile roofs are heavy and fragile, so ask installers whether they have experience fixing panels to stone tiles without damage. Near the seafront, salt rated fixings help panels last 25 to 30 years. In the old town conservation area, your installer will check the rules.
Solar panels in SwanageBattery storage
Holiday lets and second homes are common in Swanage. A battery can store solar generated while the property is empty and use it in the evening when guests return. For year round residents, a 5 to 10 kWh battery covers the evening peak. Ask installers about monitoring apps if you manage your home from a distance.
Battery storage in SwanageAir source heat pumps
Victorian villas and stone cottages in Swanage often have solid walls and need a careful heat survey. Bungalows and later estate homes are often simpler, with gardens that have room for an outdoor unit. Near the sea, ask about a coastal coating for the unit. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme can contribute £7,500 if you qualify.
Air source heat pumps in SwanageHome EV chargers
Swanage gets busy in summer and on street parking in the old town is tight. Homes with driveways on the hillsides and newer estates are the easiest for a home charger. If you live in a flat with an allocated space, you may qualify for the OZEV grant of £500. Charging overnight at home is far cheaper than rapid public charging at around 79p per kWh.
Home EV chargers in SwanageLocal know how
Homes in Swanage
Local homes
Swanage grew as a Victorian seaside resort, so the town has plenty of Victorian villas and terraces, along with older Purbeck stone cottages in the old town and later bungalows and estates on the hills around the bay. A good share of homes are second homes or holiday lets.
Typical roofs
Older homes often have heavy Purbeck stone tile roofs, which need specialist care if panels are added. Victorian homes usually have slate, and later bungalows and estates tend to have concrete tiles.
Conservation and planning
The old town of Swanage is a conservation area with listed stone buildings, and the town sits within the Dorset National Landscape on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Your installer will check what consents may apply.
Weather and setting
Swanage faces east across its bay, which gives some shelter from the prevailing westerlies, but homes near the seafront still get salt air. Homes on the hills behind the town can be windy.
Seaside homes in Purbeck stone
Swanage grew from a quarrying town into a Victorian seaside resort, and its homes tell that story. The old town has cottages and buildings of grey Purbeck stone, often with heavy stone tile roofs. Victorian villas and terraces line the streets behind the seafront, and bungalows and later estates spread up the hills around the bay.
The town is also popular with second home owners and holiday lets, which changes how some households use energy. A home that sits empty for weeks in winter and is full every weekend in August needs a different setup from one lived in all year, so tell installers how your home is used.
Stone tile roofs and the old town
Purbeck stone tiles are beautiful, but they are heavy and can crack if handled carelessly. Not every installer is comfortable fixing panels to them. Ask about their experience and how they secure the brackets. If the roof is not suitable, panels on a garage, outbuilding or ground mounted frame may be an option.
The old town is a conservation area with listed buildings, and Swanage sits within the Dorset National Landscape on the Jurassic Coast. Your installer will check whether extra consents apply before any work starts.
Sea air and summer crowds
Swanage faces east across its bay, which shelters it from some of the worst westerly gales, but salt air is still part of life near the front. Corrosion resistant fixings and a coastal coating on the heat pump unit are worth asking for. Up on the hills, homes can be more exposed to wind.
Summer brings crowded streets and tight parking, so installers may prefer to work outside the busiest weeks. It is worth discussing timing when you get quotes.
What to ask Swanage installers
- Have you fitted panels to Purbeck stone tile roofs before?
- What fixings and coatings do you use for homes near the sea?
- Can I control the heating remotely if the home is a holiday let?
- Will my home need consent because of the conservation area or a listing?
Green Squad does not install anything. We pass your enquiry to no more than 3 local installers, and installers in our network are MCS certified. Use our estimate tool for a rough idea, then request free quotes.
Simple and free
How it works
Step 1: Tell us about your home
Answer a few quick questions. It takes about a minute and there is no obligation.
Step 2: We match you with up to 3 local installers
We pick vetted, MCS certified installers who actually cover your part of Dorset. Never more than three.
Step 3: Compare quotes and choose
Installers get in touch to arrange a survey and a written quote. You choose who to go with, or no one at all.
Swanage questions
Can solar panels go on a Purbeck stone tile roof?
Sometimes, but stone tiles are heavy and can crack, so the installer needs experience with them. In some cases panels on an outbuilding or a ground mounted array is easier. If your home is listed or in the conservation area, your installer will check what consent is needed.
Is a heat pump a good idea for a holiday let in Swanage?
It can be. Heat pumps can be controlled remotely, so you can warm the home before guests arrive. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme can apply if the property meets the rules. Ask installers about smart controls and how the system handles empty periods.
Get free quotes in Swanage
Free, no obligation quotes from up to 3 vetted local installers. It takes about a minute.