The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published new research urging the Government to focus a new National Retrofit Strategy on updating 3.3m homes in England that were built between 1919 and 1939.
The research states that in 2021, 17% of households in interwar suburbs were in fuel poverty, proportionally higher than the overall national rate of 13% – largely due to their poor insulation, solid wall construction, and high gas reliance.
It also found that only 10% of interwar homes achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) above Band C. If current Band D rated homes were retrofitted to achieve Band C performance, households would save £483 per year under the 2022 energy price cap.
The Homes for Heroes report sets out how a ‘fabric-first’ retrofit strategy could be achieved, from insulating walls to effectively deploying heat pumps, and outlines effective funding mechanisms – from tax levers, to grants, to allowances for landlords.
It also demonstrates how a National Retrofit Strategy could create thousands of green jobs. Through the installation of external insulation to all of England’s interwar homes alone, the Government could generate 5,000 full time jobs every year for the next ten years.
RIBA President, Simon Allford, said: “Houses built in the interwar period have rightly gained a reputation for being highly desirable, spacious family homes in vibrant suburban communities, but their age and construction leave residents vulnerable to extreme fuel poverty. They require urgent retrofitting, and this is highly achievable, as their uniformity favours mass customisation. Indeed these interwar homes present a real opportunity to gain ground when it comes to retrofitting our housing stock. By regenerating these homes, we can improve the health and wellbeing of those in fuel poor households, significantly reduce carbon emissions, and set a precedent for local authorities, housing associations, landlords and homeowners up and down the country. We urge the Government to rise to this challenge by breaking down financial barriers, overcome technical challenges and boost consumer confidence.”
