The council announced on 16th December that it was backing a national retrofit strategy called ‘Greening Our Existing Homes’, which aims to help make them greener, more energy- and water-efficient, warmer, and cheaper to run.

According to the Construction Leadership Council, the programme will aid recovery in the repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) sector, and provide opportunity for a joined-up approach to tackle climate change by all parts of the construction industry.

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The strategy calls for a working partnership between the industry and the government, to achieve three key deliverables: 

• creating a ‘building passport’ for every home
• the development of skills training modules
• creating delivery programmes in trial areas to enable a grassroots approach.

Brian Berry, chief executive at the FMB, said: “The FMB has called for many years for a national retrofit strategy that sets out a comprehensive plan for upgrading our homes. 

“To see the leaders of the construction industry adopt the plan is a significant step to help create a low-carbon built environment. 

“With the UN Climate Change Conference taking place in Glasgow next year, and an ambitious net-zero carbon emission target on the horizon, the time is ripe to take forward a long-term plan for green homes. 

“The government must now work with the construction industry, and all supporters of the retrofit strategy, to implement the report’s recommendations and deliver confidence to business that the retrofit market is here to stay.”