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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
T
he 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 The outdated, inefficient housing that characterises much of the UK’s landscape is not just an economic and environmental burden; it stands in the way of achieving the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;
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• 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.
ADF OCTOBER 2024
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