Solutions for Low Energy Domestic Retrofit at Scale

On 18th February, Building Insights LIVE staged a round table alongside the launch of the Government’s £15bn Warm Homes Plan, bringing together architects, sustainability consultants, retrofit specialists, industry bodies and suppliers to tackle one pressing question: how can the UK deliver home retrofit at unprecedented scale? With £5bn of funding available, the discussion focused on practical solutions as affordability pressures and fuel poverty continue to intensify.

Sponsored by NIBE Energy Systems and IDSystems, the session explored how low-carbon heating integrates with whole-house retrofit strategies, particularly alongside fabric-first improvements. Delegates also examined how window and glazing specifications must evolve to support higher performance standards, while reflecting on recommendations from our 2024 retrofit round table.

A key theme was whether the Warm Homes Plan can address the gap left by the abrupt cancellation of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme in late 2025. While broadly welcomed, participants identified potential shortcomings and stressed the importance of balancing ambition with delivery. Several contributors emphasised that, given the urgency, the sector must avoid “making the perfect the enemy of the good” when scaling retrofit programmes.

The discussion generated a series of recommendations for both government and industry. These included tackling the ‘spark gap’ between electricity and gas prices, introducing ‘building passports’ to improve transparency and asset value, and strengthening quality assurance to rebuild trust following past retrofit controversies.

Above all, the session highlighted the need to improve the credibility, consistency and communication of retrofit projects to increase homeowner confidence and uptake.

The round table offered an open and candid exchange on the systemic changes required across construction and the wider property sector. Delivering retrofit at scale will demand not only stronger regulatory drivers, but also clear incentives and a coordinated industry response.

Event Chair:

• James Parker, Managing Editor, Architects’ Datafile and Housebuilder & Developer

Attendees:

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