Local leaders the key to delivering warm homes – UK100

The UK100 network of local leaders have responded to the revelation that the Great British Insulation Scheme is around 60 years behind schedule, by highlighting new case studies which show how local authorities are leading on retrofit.

UK100 Chief Executive Christopher Hammond says: ‘Everyone in the UK deserves a warm, safe home that they can afford to heat. But with some of the oldest and leakiest homes in Europe, this is far from the day-to-day reality for millions in the UK. While schemes like GBIS flounder, the work being done in places like Leeds and Greater Manchester shows that, equipped with the right tools and support, local authorities are delivering for their communities. To unlock their full potential, however, the next Government must empower local authorities to lead.

‘That means long-term, needs-based funding for retrofit and energy efficiency upgrades, support for skills training, and support for local authorities to develop local area energy plans.

 ‘The scale of retrofit we need is in the millions, not thousands. With the right national framework, long-term support and policy back-up, local leaders have immense untapped potential to deliver warm and affordable to run homes. They are best placed to deliver at pace and scale. Top down isn’t working, it’s time to unlock local ambition.’

In Leeds, George Munson, Energy and Climate Change Manager at Leeds City Council, explores the Priority Neighbourhood Approach, funded in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority, to deliver whole street retrofits in Holbeck, aimed at tackling fuel poverty in some of the city’s most vulnerable communities.

In Manchester, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority has convened businesses, skills providers and finance to kickstart a regional retrofit market.

In his video, Todd Holden, Energy Policy and Programme Lead, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, says: ‘It would be wrong to think retrofit is simply an environmental agenda. It’s actually much broader than that. [There are] massive opportunities around jobs, around growing the local economy … creating really sustainable places. The challenge around retrofit is probably best separated into three core areas – finance, skills and delivery.’

The case study videos were originally posted on the UK100 Knowledge Hub pages.