GUEST ARTICLE: The UK Housing Crisis – Is Retrofitting the Missing Piece to the Puzzle?

The government has confirmed its third wave of the Social Housing Fund allocations, announcing a £1.29 billion investment in retrofitting 170,000 homes in England. The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund intends to improve quality of living, slash fuel poverty and help meet net zero goals. It 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. This guest article, featuring quotes from Dr. Alex Boote, Product & Innovation Manager at ARC Building Solutions, has more…

While the current housing crisis remains urgent – and the government’s promise to build 1.5 million homes hopes to provide the solution – this funding could present a compelling alternative to the unrealistic goal of building so many new homes, shifting the focus instead to improving the quality of living in existing communities.

A survey commissioned by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) reveals over half (55%) of respondents 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.

Dr. Alex Boote, Product & Innovation Manager at ARC Building Solutions, a leading manufacturer of cavity fire barriers and insulation products, thinks accelerating retrofit activity could be the answer.

“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,” he comments.

“This can lead to structural damage, respiratory illnesses, and poor mental wellbeing caused by cold, uncomfortable living environments.”

Barely scratching the surface

Reinforcing Dr. Alex Boote’s point, the latest English Housing Survey technical report found a total of 6.6 million homes fail to meet required living standards. The current £1.29 billion retrofit funding is set to benefit only 170,000 homes which equates to just 2.6% of those currently unfit for purpose – barely scratching the surface and indicating the initiative is only a small step toward solving the wider issue.

Dr. Boote continues: “Retrofitting doesn’t need to be complex or costly. But it does need to be installed right. We see all too often, when retrofit activity takes place, much focus is given to insulating walls, roofs, and windows. People often overlook the eaves junction – the joint between the roof and the wall – due to the challenge of accessing the area.

“This means cold spots form, resulting in inadequate insulation practices, exacerbating the chances of thermal bridging occurring. And of course, this leads to high energy bills and the prospect of detrimental health risks due to mould and damp growth.

“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.”

Challenges

As the population grows, the demand for homes is predicted to increase, but challenges like skills shortages, time constraints, and high costs for new developments could hinder efforts to meet the 1.5 million-home target. And while new housing developments are undoubtedly necessary, they likely will not provide immediate benefits, what with a potential lack of practical infrastructure in local proximity, such as schools, shops, and medical centres.

According to Dr. Alex Boote, the promise to build 300,000 new homes per year is idealistic.

He says: “While efforts to meet this goal will certainly not be without its challenges—due to planning delays and the lack of available labour and materials – it’s important to not overlook the quality of existing properties, as currently, many homes fail to meet the required living standards.

“With the new housing goal certainly stealing the limelight, it’s crucial to not let it overtake the importance of enhancing the homes already built. Retrofitting offers an immediate, sustainable, and cost-effective solution, improving the living conditions of homes in already established areas while contributing to a more sustainable future.”