This guide is part of the RetroNetZero project, funded by Innovate UK and led by BRE. It explores health-led retrofit procurement: how the way we commission retrofit shapes not only cost and carbon, but the comfort, air quality and wellbeing of residents. It is written for housing providers, local authorities, procurement teams, asset managers and retrofit professionals who want healthier, safer and more effective outcomes.
WHY HEALTH-LED PROCUREMENT MATTERS
Nearly 10 million UK households live in inefficient, poorly insulated homes, and in 2024 around 4 million homes in England failed the Decent Homes Standard. Because procurement choices influence resident health, comfort, safety, affordability and long-term performance, they are one of the most powerful levers we have. Yet our workshops found that procurement processes are often not designed to support innovation, and that outcomes beyond energy efficiency are rarely specified.
WHAT THE GUIDE COVERS
The guide shows how the Procurement Act 2023 opens the door to more outcome-focused procurement, through early market engagement, competitive flexible procedures, stronger transparency and a sharper focus on social value. It offers:
- Principles for innovation-friendly procurement
- How to apply them across the procurement lifecycle, from pre-procurement to post-installation evaluation
- Practical questions for evaluating new technologies
- Solution-specific guidance on insulation, low-carbon heating and hot water, ventilation, cooking, finishes, and sensors and monitoring
A recurring theme runs through it: innovation needs managed risk, not risk avoidance. Emerging solutions need structured testing, monitoring and learning if they are to scale responsibly.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
This guide was led by the National Retrofit Hub as part of RetroNetZero (RS&IN), the Regulatory Science and Innovation Network for unlocking the adoption of innovation in domestic retrofit. The project is funded by Innovate UK (Project 10139469) and led by BRE, whose consortium also includes the Construction Products Association, National Energy Foundation, Constructing Excellence and Planet Mark. It was produced with the support of the BRE team.
Read the guide and start embedding health and innovation into your procurement decisions.
