The government’s move to spend £1.29 billion on retrofitting 170,000 homes in England has been praised as ‘crucial’ by a building expert.
The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund equips social housing providers, such as local authorities, housing associations, and other social landlords, with the funding to carry out energy performance upgrades, including retrofit insulation.
Dr. Alex Boote, product & innovation manager at ARC Building Solutions, said: “Although the need for new homes remains a pressing issue, we already have a vast number of uninhabitable properties experiencing issues such as damp and mould growth.
“This can lead to structural damage, respiratory illnesses, and poor mental wellbeing caused by cold, uncomfortable living environments.”
He added: “The investment in retrofitting is crucial—not just to address the housing crisis, but to meet other national targets such as achieving net zero by 2050. Currently, one-fifth of the UK’s carbon emissions are produced by poorly insulated homes.
“Retrofitting not only helps meet the UK’s sustainability goals by improving energy efficiency in existing buildings but also improves the quality of homes—improving their longevity, overall sustainability, and the health of the occupants.”
There is still a challenge in spending the cash efficiently, Boote added, as he said too much focus tends to be on insulating walls, roofs, and windows.
The eaves junction—the joint between the roof and the wall—is often overlooked due to the challenge of accessing the area, Boote warned.
A survey commissioned by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) reveals over half (55%) of people believe older homes were better quality than new builds, with almost a third describing new-build housing as ‘poor quality’.
According to snagging app BuildScan, 2021 data found the average new-build home has as many as 157 defects—up 95% since 2005.
