Community retrofit isn’t something that can be done to people. It’s something we have to deliver with them. From the very beginning of the National Retrofit Hub, it’s been clear that community and civic society-led models play a vital role in reaching the homes, buildings, people, and places that national schemes often miss.
This theme has surfaced again and again across our working groups. And in our April Open Meeting, Community Retrofit was voted by attendees as a top priority for our next phase of work.
WHAT WE’RE FOCUSSING ON
This cross-cutting theme will bring people together to explore the conditions that enable successful, community-rooted retrofit. While the group will shape its own direction, early emerging themes include:
- Understanding the role and value of community organisations in retrofit
- Exploring how trust is built — and broken — in retrofit delivery
- Looking at models of engagement that go beyond consultation
- Considering how governance, funding and delivery models can better support place-based retrofit
This is about connecting what already works, learning from those doing it, and working out how to scale and support it in a joined-up way working with those already doing the work.
WHO’S INVOLVED?
This cross cutting theme is being co-led by the Centre for Sustainable Energy, People Powered Retrofit, and Home Energy Action Lab, all with deep expertise in community-led retrofit and place-based innovation. Together, they’ll convene workshops, conversations, and knowledge sharing to help us understand what good looks like, and how we make it happen more widely.
WHY NOW?
Community-led models aren’t a ‘nice to have’. They’re an evidenced and proven route to build trust, enable take-up, and develop long-term value. However, the support that these approaches deserve as legitimate and rigorous models is not widely provided. As retrofit activity grows, we need to ensure community organisations have the support, visibility and voice to shape how retrofit is delivered, not just be asked to help communicate it. This theme is our way of making that happen.
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
Whether you’re part of a community organisation, a local authority, a delivery partner, or simply someone who cares about place-based approaches that centre people and build trust, we want to hear from you. The community retrofit theme will only be as strong as the voices within it.
We would love to have your input to help get the group off the ground by filling out this form.
MEET THE CO-LEADS:
Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE)
An existing partner of the National Retrofit Hub, CSE has decades of experience working at the intersection of energy, people, and place. Their work spans advice services, retrofit delivery, community capacity-building, and policy engagement. All with a strong emphasis on fairness, access, and local impact. CSE is committed to ensuring retrofit works for the people and places who need it most.
People Powered Retrofit (PPR)
PPR has long been an inspiration in the community retrofit space. Based in Manchester, they’ve pioneered approaches that combine technical expertise with deep community engagement, offering practical support and retrofit coordination for homeowners while also influencing wider policy and practice. PPR helps show how retrofit can be made real, local, and trusted.
Home Energy Action Lab (HEAL)
Set up as a community benefit society by 3 residents of Hackney in 2022, HEAL has set about exploring the potential roles that community groups could play in supporting the retrofit of homes and buildings through research, engagement, workshops and events. Their approach empowers local leaders to take practical steps in their own neighbourhoods, building retrofit literacy, confidence, and capacity from the ground up.
