Retrofit – the process of improving a building’s energy performance – is critical to reducing emissions, cutting energy bills, and creating warmer, healthier homes. Yet many residents face barriers like high costs, confusing advice, and limited access to skilled workers.
The strategy responds to these challenges by uniting key players in the retrofit system – from planners and contractors to educators and community groups – to deliver joined-up action and investment.
The launch builds on earlier steps such as the “Retrofitting Your House: For a cosier, greener home” guide (recently featured in The Times) and the Greener Homes skills initiative, and has been shaped through three major co-design workshops, regular working group meetings, and the support of over 50 stakeholders across the retrofit supply chain.
“Hertfordshire has some of the oldest housing stock in the UK, and many of our homes are leaky, cold and difficult to heat efficiently,” said Cllr Stotesbury, Chair of the Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership (HCCSP). “This strategy is about tackling that head on – not in isolation, but together.”
Jonathan Geall, Director for Communities at East Herts Council, added: “East Herts District Council is excited about the great potential of the Hertfordshire Retrofit Strategy, especially as our promotion to date of the county-wide Solar Together scheme to help residents fit solar panels and the step-by-step guide to making your home more energy efficient have been so successful."
“This collaborative strategy is a big step forward to improving home efficiency across the district, as well as the wider county, which will save money, improve our carbon footprint, and afford residents healthier lives in our beautiful corner of Hertfordshire."
A highlight of the launch event included a powerful talk from Hertfordshire resident Judith Leary-Joyce, who shared her experience retrofitting her Victorian terrace to reduce energy bills and increase comfort. The launch was also introduced by the MCS Foundation, whose Local Area Retrofit Accelerator project funded the development of the strategy.
The scale of the task is huge – nearly 483,000 homes need to be retrofitted by 2050, requiring thousands of trained professionals and a strong supply chain. But the potential is equally big: a retrofit economy worth billions, significant carbon and bill savings, and a better quality of life for residents.
Already, local partners have secured over £100 million to upgrade homes and buildings, including a recent £40 million package delivered through partnerships between councils and housing providers. The Retrofit Strategy provides the next step forward – a framework to coordinate action, unlock long-term success and grow a thriving low-carbon economy in Hertfordshire.
For more information, please visit Building Retrofit.
