Hitchin residents could soon see big changes to how their homes are heated, insulated, and powered, as Hertfordshire launches its first-ever countywide Retrofit Strategy. The new plan, unveiled at a stakeholder event on 8 July, is a landmark effort to tackle climate change, reduce energy bills, and make homes warmer and healthier – and it's set to have a big impact locally.

The strategy is the result of a coordinated push by Hertfordshire's councils, colleges, housing associations, community groups, and local businesses. It's designed to overcome common barriers to retrofitting homes – such as high upfront costs, confusing advice, and a lack of skilled workers – by bringing together everyone involved in the process, from builders and educators to planners and funders.

"Many people want to make their homes greener and cheaper to run, but it's not always easy to know where to start," said Cllr Adrian England, Hertfordshire's Executive Member for Sustainability. "This strategy is about making that easier. It's also about creating local green jobs and cutting emissions, which is good for residents in Hitchin and across the county."

Retrofit – the process of improving a building's energy efficiency – includes measures such as better insulation, upgraded heating systems, and renewable energy installations. According to the new strategy, Hertfordshire will need to retrofit nearly 483,000 homes by 2050. That's a massive challenge, but also a major opportunity for places like Hitchin to become greener and more resilient.

The strategy builds on projects already underway, including the "Retrofitting Your House: For a Cosier, Greener Home" guide, recently featured in The Times, and the Greener Homes skills programme, which aims to boost local training in green construction.

At the launch event, local resident Judith Leary-Joyce shared her personal journey retrofitting her Victorian terrace home. Her story highlighted both the challenges and rewards of upgrading older housing – something particularly relevant to Hitchin, where period homes are common.

The strategy's development was supported by the MCS Foundation, whose Local Area Retrofit Accelerator helped fund the work. To date, more than £100 million has already been secured in retrofit funding for Hertfordshire, including a £40 million package delivered through local councils and housing providers.

For Hitchin residents, the benefits could be far-reaching: warmer homes, lower bills, better air quality, and a growing local green economy. As the strategy moves into its next phase, residents can expect more information, support, and opportunities to get involved in shaping a cleaner, more affordable future for their community.