A National Retrofit Hub paper highlights how retrofit policy and delivery often focus narrowly on technical performance and energy metrics, when ‘enabling communities to have a… say… is critical to delivering lasting benefits.’
National Retrofit Hub writes:
This paper makes the case that retrofit must continue to meet statutory obligations on emissions reduction and fuel poverty alleviation, while also responding to the lived experiences of communities and the distinct identities of places. It argues that enabling communities to have a real and meaningful say in how outcomes are defined and achieved is critical to delivering lasting benefits.
The paper also highlights that most retrofit programmes still rely on predicted performance rather than measuring how homes actually perform once work is complete, despite repeated national audits calling for stronger outcome monitoring. Evidence shows that many of the benefits of retrofit are social and health related, including improved comfort, reduced damp and mould, and better wellbeing, yet these outcomes are rarely captured or valued.
The paper sets out some key recommendations, including:
Broaden how success in retrofit is defined, so health, comfort, and lived experience are valued alongside energy and carbon performance.
Measure real world outcomes, not just predictions, by embedding post intervention monitoring to understand how homes actually perform once work is complete.
Support communities to shape and assess outcomes, including through place-based approaches such as Community Health Impact Assessments.
