Housing retrofit: How do we deal with aging housing stock?

The UK has the oldest housing stock in Europe with up to 40% homes built before 1946. Decarbonisation of the sector is progressing much slower than on much of the continent. Across the UK 70% of homes are owner occupied, 18% are in some kind of social rent and 12% in private rent.

What solutions work for our older housing stock?

Retrofit Balsall Heath is a project overcoming these hurdles, where 649 houses have been retrofitted using Local Authority Delivery Phase 3 funding at no cost to the homeowners. Harnessing the economies of scale that contractors can offer the backbone of the programme stems from engagement with building owners and occupiers to build understanding and confidence in the scheme. 

Within the social rented sector, the HACT’s Retrofit Credits project presents an alternative approach to solving the funding issue. HACT tracks carbon-emission reduction and measures the social value impact from retrofitting dwellings, certified under the Verified Carbon Standard and sells these to businesses who have taken steps to decarbonise their businesses and wish to further offset their emissions. Currently the funding is used to help housing associations and local authorities retrofit properties alleviating fuel poverty and improving unhealthy and energy inefficient homes. 

With 17% of emissions coming from residential building in the UK, the sector has fallen behind due to a mix of lack of funding and uncertainty that the public feel about what they should do. Come and hear how these two projects are facilitating housing retrofit and what these tools could mean to reduce carbon emissions from the built environment.

Chairperson Loreana Padron, Regional Head of Sustainability - ECD Architects Speakers Antoine Pellet, Head of Retrofit Credits - HACT John Christophers, Architect - Retrofit Balsall Heath