Architect and National Retrofit Hub co-director Sara Edmonds discusses the critical need for a major retrofit programme to tackle fuel poverty, reduce emissions and improve housing quality, and how the Hub is driving collaborative action
The challenge of retrofitting the UK’s existing housing stock is well-known, yet the urgency has never been greater. With an estimated 5.6 million households in fuel poverty and the heating of residential buildings responsible for 20% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, the need for a transformative approach to housing is clear. This transformation extends beyond merely reducing carbon emissions or cutting energy bills; it’s about enhancing the health, wellbeing, and security of millions of people across the country.
Retrofitting represents a crucial societal shift that we can’t afford to delay further.The outdated, inefficient housing that characterises much of the UK’s landscape is not just an economic and environmental burden; it stands in the way of achieving the quality of life that everyone deserves. The path ahead is challenging, but the stakes are too high to settle for anything less than a comprehensive commitment to change.
The role of the National Retrofit Hub
Since joining the National Retrofit Hub (NRH) as a co-director in the summer of 2023, I’ve witnessed the pivotal role we play in advancing the UK’s retrofit agenda. The NRH was established to serve as a central coordinating point for industry leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders to collaborate effectively on enabling the local delivery of retrofit across the UK.
The Hub is organised around six working groups, each focusing on different key areas of the retrofit challenge:
- warm, healthy, net zero homes;
- supply chain, products & solutions;
- workforce growth and skill development;
- finance;
- delivery approaches;
- driving uptake.
Through these groups, we are working together to identify gaps, prioritise key areas, and agree on practical actions to enable retrofit at scale. As co-director, my focus has been on ensuring that these efforts are action-oriented, with clear deliverables that drive meaningful progress at the local level across the UK.
One of the most significant aspects of our work at the NRH is our ability to convene and unify a wide range of stakeholders. This goes beyond sharing knowledge; it’s about fostering collaboration that leads to rigorous, meaningful outcomes. The NRH provides a platform where diverse voices come together, ensuring that positive action is prioritised and that we are collectively driving towards our shared goals of enabling the local delivery of retrofit at scale.
Releasing resources for retrofit progress
Through our convening and collaborative work, we’ve made important progress in addressing the challenges of large-scale retrofitting. One example is the “Delivery Approaches: State of the Nation Review” which we developed in collaboration with our partners Arup and Ashden, and our Delivery Approaches working group.
This 50-page report provides a comprehensive analysis of retrofit delivery across the UK, highlighting areas where collaborative efforts can enhance existing models, overcome barriers, and create new initiatives for local retrofit delivery. The report’s three core aims are:
- Evaluate the current state of retrofit delivery and determine the scale required to meet decarbonisation targets.
- Examine the resident journey across five key delivery pathways, identifying challenges and opportunities within the current policy and industry landscape.
- Identify best practices and emerging opportunities to strengthen collaboration across the sector.
The report serves as a springboard, encouraging the advancement of retrofit delivery and underscoring the importance of collaboration between industry, government, and communities
in accelerating the retrofit of millions of homes.
Coordinating on EPC reform
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) have long played a crucial role in promoting energy efficiency, but their current framework has significant limitations. Recognising the need for a
more effective system, the National Retrofit Hub is bringing together stakeholders to coordinate efforts to collectively reform EPCs.
Our approach involves bringing together all the work that has already been done in this area, ensuring that the wealth of existing knowledge and research is fully utilised. We have facilitated industry-wide workshops that bring together a broad spectrum of stakeholders-ranging from policymakers and industry experts to practitioners on the ground. These workshops are crucial for fostering dialogue, sharing best practices, and identifying the gaps that must be addressed.
Beyond these collaborative efforts, we are conducting research to ensure that our recommendations are both evidence-based and aligned with the practical needs of the sector and the public at large. The outcome of this comprehensive process will be a set of recommendations that we will present to guide future policy and improve the effectiveness of EPCs as tools for driving substantial energy efficiency improvements.
Through this coordinated effort, we are working together to ensure that the reformed EPC framework will better support the UK’s ambitious net-zero targets and drive meaningful progress in
the retrofit sector.
Looking ahead: The future of retrofitting in the UK
As time goes on and the UK approaches its net-zero targets, retrofitting existing homes becomes more than just a policy objective — it’s a pressing need that directly impacts peoples’ health and wellbeing.
At the NRH, it’s as much about the way in which we operate as it is about the subject matter. Our approach is rooted in collaboration, practical action, and shared leadership. By bringing people together, fostering innovative solutions, and influencing government policy, we’re helping to make retrofitting a key part of the UK’s strategy for a resilient, low-carbon future.
For us, retrofitting isn’t just about reducing emissions; it’s about creating homes and neighbourhoods that are warmer, healthier, resilient and more affordable to live in. It’s the foundation of our efforts to build a more sustainable, equitable society.
Sara Edmonds is an architect, and co-director at the National Retrofit Hub