“Retrofit not only promotes economic growth but helps us tackle and adapt to climate change and creates comfortable places to live, work and visit.” (David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire)
One of the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub’s six Combined Authority partners has launched a consultation on a draft strategy which aims to make the area’s buildings more comfortable to live in and to lower household bills – whilst also growing the local economy.
A consultation on York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s draft Retrofit Strategy is open for contributions until December 3rd 2025.
Retrofit sees improvements made to existing buildings to make them cheaper and easier to heat and power, with ways of retrofitting buildings including better insulation, upgraded windows and heat pumps.
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and a host of partners – including the the Hub – have developed a draft Retrofit Strategy aimed at increasing the pace and scale of retrofit in the area.
The strategy states that the York and North Yorkshire has “the ability to test, trial, perfect and lead the way for retrofit” and contains the following strategic priorities, supported by proposed interventions.
- Growing York and North Yorkshire’s market demand for retrofit at a pace and scale.
- Supporting the local supply chain to cope with growing demand.
- Reducing finance as a barrier to retrofit.
- Ensuring a data and research driven approach to retrofit.
- Coordinating strategic delivery across partners
- Demonstrating best practice and delivering programmes that meet the pace and scale of retrofit required.
The draft strategy highlights how:
- There are approximately 50,000 households in fuel poverty in York and North Yorkshire
- 63% of homes (221,308) and 57% (11,511) of non-domestic buildings have an EPC below EPC C
- Retrofitting 250,000 homes in York and North Yorkshire to EPC C or above could save up to £250m a year in energy bills.
- For every £1 invested in keeping buildings warm, it is estimated that there is an NHS saving of 42p in direct healthcare costs.
- Approximately £8.7 billion in investment is needed to retrofit UK homes, which represents a huge opportunity for local businesses.
The strategy also highlights the unique opportunities for innovative retrofit in the area, including a thriving biobased materials sector including hemp and sheep’s wool, which can be used for insulation.
The strategy and consultation can be viewed here.
The North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub runs a number of programmes supporting retrofit in the region, as part of one of it’s objectives supporting the government’s forthcoming Warm Homes Plan