Housing Retrofit

Saving energy, keeping homes warmer, cutting costs and reducing carbon emissions.

Mayor Steve Rotheram stands with a group of people outside a retrofitted home in high vis jackets

What is retrofit?

Retrofit is the process of making changes to an existing home to improve its energy performance, through adding measures such as insulation to the property, or by installing a low-carbon heating system. The aims are to save energy, keep homes warmer, cut carbon emissions and ease fuel costs.

  • Image credit: Next Energy

  • Benefits of retrofit

    Quality of life

    Installing fabric measures such as loft, underfloor and cavity wall insulation helps to reduce heat loss from the home. This improves comfort, keeps the home warmer for longer and reduces demand on heating. The resulting energy saving helps to ease fuel costs for residents. Mechanical ventilation measures such as extractor fans are usually installed alongside fabric measures to maintain good indoor air quality and moisture levels.

  • Installing solar panels and low carbon heating systems such as heat pumps enable residents to generate and use their own renewable energy to power and heat their home. This helps to reduce reliance on increasingly expensive and insecure fossil fuel energy sources.

  • Easing fuel costs and reducing exposure to excessive cold, damp and mould can improve the physical and mental health of residents, particularly for low-income households, older people, and those with respiratory conditions. This helps to reduce health inequalities in the City Region and costs to our health and welfare services.

  • Climate

    Given our homes are responsible for around a third of the City Region’s total carbon emissions, improving their energy performance is key to achieving the net zero ambitions set out in our Five Year Climate Action Plan (2023).  

  • Installing fabric measures that reduce heating demand, solar panels that generate renewable energy, and low carbon heating systems, reduces domestic fossil fuel consumption and therefore carbon emissions. 

  • Retrofit solutions explained

    As part of retrofitting your property, a retrofit assessor will survey your property and produce a list of retrofit measures that are needed to bring your home up to an energy efficient standard. Learn more about the key terms below to better understand some of the retrofit measures that may be proposed to improve your property:

    • Air Source Heat Pumps
    • Cavity Wall insulation
    • Ground Source Heat Pumps
    • Solar Panels PV
    • Internal Wall Insulation
    • External Wall Insulation
    • Roof/Loft Insulation

    All content has been kindly provided by Energy Saving Trust.

    Find out more

    Retrofit Funding Programmes

    The Combined Authority has already bid for and won £105m in government funding to support low-income households by retrofitting around 10,000 properties with energy efficient measures, including external wall insulation, roof insulation, heat pumps and solar panels. So far, nearly 6,000 properties have been completed.

  • We are committed to securing further funding wherever possible to expand the retrofit programme to benefit as many households across the city region as we can.

  • We deliver our retrofit programmes in partnership with Registered Providers of Social Housing, our six Local Authorities and installers, to improve the energy performance of homes across tenures and boroughs. Funding prioritises low-income households living in homes with the lowest energy performance so that those most in need are most likely to benefit.

  • Retrofit home vector illustration of two people on a sofa

    Current funding programmes

  • Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 2.1

    The Combined Authority obtained grant funding from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to deliver SHDF Wave 2.1. Delivery commenced in 2023 and will conclude March 2025. The Combined Authority has led a consortium of 14 Registered Providers of Social Housing to deliver energy improvements to social homes in the City Region. This follows delivery of SHDF Wave 1 by the Combined Authority (see previous funding programmes below). 

  • Funding is targeted at social homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of band D-G with the aims of improving their energy performance to EPC band C, reducing reliance on fossil fuel heating, and easing fuel costs for tenants. 

  • Registered Providers determine which of their homes to include in SHDF, which measures are suitable for installation and which contractors to appoint to provide retrofit assessment, design, coordination, and installation services. If you are a social housing tenant, please contact your provider directly to enquire about participation. 

  • The Combined Authority is currently working with Registered Providers in the City Region to prepare for future Waves of SHDF.

  • Public Sector Buildings Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS)

    The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) provides grants for public sector bodies to fund heat decarbonisation and energy efficient measures in public sector buildings under the Public Sector Buildings Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS). It supports the aim of reducing emissions from public sector buildings by 75% by 2037, compared to a 2017 baseline.

  • For more information, visit: Phase 3c Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme | Salix Finance

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  • The Combined Authority has been successful in receiving £5.4M funding from Phase 3c of the funding round, and has collaborated with local authorities across the region to identify the buildings that will have the energy efficient measures installed: 

    • Georges Dock
    • Cunard Building
    • Wirral Country Park 
    • Landican Cemetery 
    • Netherton Activity Centre 
    • Prescot Soccer Centre 
    • Earlestown Town Hall  
  • Closed Funding Programmes – work we’ve finished

    Sustainable Warmth Fund (LAD3 and HUG1)

    The Combined Authority obtained £32.3m of grant funding from Central Government to deliver the Sustainable Warmth Fund, which comprised of LAD3 for privately-owned homes heated by mains gas and HUG1 for privately-owned homes not heated by mains gas. Delivery concluded in September 2023 with energy improvements made to over 2,800 homes. This accounted for 15% of the total national output for the programme.

  • The Combined Authority appointed Everwarm to provide retrofit assessment and coordination services and Knowsley-based contractor Next Energy to provide retrofit assessment, design, coordination, and installation services. 

  • The Combined Authority was awarded ‘Best Local Authority Retrofit Programme’ at the Retrofit Academy Awards 2024 for delivery of the Sustainable Warmth Fund. The judges stated that ‘unwavering excellence, commitment, and leadership in the UK’s retrofit industry have truly set you apart’ and ‘stands as an inspiration, establishing a benchmark for others in the industry to aspire to.’

  • Please see case studies for stories and examples of installation.

  • Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 1 

    The Combined Authority obtained £11.1m of grant funding from Central Government to deliver SHDF Wave 1. The Combined Authority is led by a consortium of 8 Registered Providers of Social Housing to deliver energy improvements to social homes in the City Region. The Government grant was match funded by the Registered Providers. Delivery concluded in December 2023 with energy improvements made to over 1,200 homes. Of the 60 participating authorities nationally, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority improved the third most homes. 

  • Please see case studies for stories and examples of installation.

  • Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery (LAD) Phase 2

    The Combined Authority obtained £15.9m of grant funding from Central Government to deliver LAD2. Delivery concluded in September 2022 with energy improvements made to over 1,300 privately-owned homes in the City Region. 

  • The Combined Authority appointed Knowsley-based contractor Next Energy to provide retrofit assessment, design, coordination, and installation services. Next Energy were awarded Regional Large-Scale Project of the Year at the Energy Efficiency Awards for delivery of LAD2. 

  • Please see case studies for stories and examples of installation.

  • Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG 2)

    The Combined Authority has obtained grant funding from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to deliver HUG2 (Home Upgrade Grant 2). Delivery commenced in 2023 and will conclude in March 2025. This follows delivery of HUG1 by the Combined Authority (see previous funding programmes below). 

  • Funding is targeted at privately-owned (owner-occupied and privately rented) homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of band D-G that are not heated by mains gas. Eligibility criteria is set by Central Government and prioritises low-income households. Funding is available to install fabric measures such as loft, underfloor, cavity wall, external wall and internal wall insulation, and low carbon heating systems such as air source heat pumps. 

  • The programme aims to improve the energy performance of homes to EPC band C, reduce reliance on fossil fuel heating and ease fuel costs for residents. 

  • The Combined Authority appointed Liverpool-based contractor Ecogee to provide retrofit assessment, design, coordination, and installation services. 

  • To find out more and determine if you qualify for HUG2 funding, visit: Home Upgrade Grant Two | Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk).

  • The Combined Authority is not currently delivering any retrofit funding programmes targeted at privately-owned homes that are heated by mains gas. When Central Government makes further funding available for these homes, the Combined Authority will apply to deliver this and update this website to inform residents. 

  • Solar Together

    Solar Together is a collective purchasing scheme for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and batteries. It is delivered in partnership with iChoosr who administer a reverse auction to achieve the best value for homeowners in the ‘able to pay’ or ‘self-funded’ market.​ 

  • The first round of LCR Solar Together concluded in June 2023 with the three successful contractors delivering installations to 586 homes.​The second round of Solar Together began in September 2023 and will conclude in June 2024. iChoosr awarded the delivery contract to Solar Bureau.

  • Please see case studies for stories and examples of installation.

  • domestic solar panel installation

    Other help and information

    Energy Performance Certificate Checker – If you would like to check the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your property, you can do so for free on the Government Website: Find an energy certificate – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

    Help with your energy bills if you’re on benefits or have a low income, visit the Government website.

    Energy Saving Tips – actions you can do to save energy and lower your bills – access immediate energy saving tips via the government website.

    Independent Advice for All Households

    Energy Projects Plus is an independent not-for-profit organisation and a registered environmental charity, working in partnership with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to provide support and advice to residents. For free advice call the Save Energy Advice Line on 0800 043 0151. Email: [email protected] 

    For more information Contact Us | Energy Projects Plus (epplus.org.uk) 

    North West Energy Projects

    For information about energy projects across the wider North West visit our partners at the North West Net Zero Hub.

    Local Authority Energy Efficiency Resources

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    Retrofit solutions - explained

    Case Studies – examples of what we have installed and results

    Solar together

  • HUG1

  • LAD2/HUG1

  • LAD2

  • SHDF w1 - Benedict St

  • SHDF w1 - Bootle Decant Property

  • SHDF w1 - Lambeth Road SHDF

  • Careers in Retrofit

    The Liverpool City Region Be More careers portal brings together opportunities from across the region. It is the one-stop shop for skills and career options in LCR, it caters for both local employers and people looking for learning opportunities including green skills. Here is some of the help and support that residents can find on the Be More website and app… 

    • Receive 1-2-1 support from Households Into Work to tackle issues such as mental illness, debt, low confidence, and low skills to improve your circumstances 
  • The Learning Foundry: Home | The Learning Foundry 

  • Working with employers across Merseyside and the Northwest, The Learning Foundry offers traineeship, apprenticeship, and bespoke training programmes in a range of business areas including Housing and Green jobs for adults and young people, supporting both unemployed and those that are employed but looking to upskill, with many courses funded. 

  • Environmental Jobs: www.environmentjob.co.uk 

  • Specialised environment recruitment site, also advertising courses and events. You can subscribe for jobs updates.

  • North West Net Zero Hub – North West Regional Retrofit Skills Plan

    The North West Net Zero Hub have created a ‘North West Retrofit Skills Plan’ to both assess the current state of the retrofit workforce throughout the region, and to identify the next steps to develop the local retrofit workforce needed to achieve ambitious net-zero targets.

    View the Retrofit Skills Plan

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