Hertfordshire has launched its first ever countywide Retrofit Strategy, following a 50-strong stakeholder event on the 8th July – a collaborative roadmap developed by councils, businesses, colleges, housing associations and local organisations to accelerate home energy efficiency improvements across the county.

Retrofit – the process of improving a building's energy performance – is critical to reducing emissions, cutting energy bills, and creating warmer, healthier homes. Yet many residents face barriers like high costs, confusing advice, and limited access to skilled workers.

The strategy responds to these challenges by uniting key players in the retrofit system – from planners and contractors to educators and community groups – to deliver joined-up action and investment.

The launch builds on earlier steps such as the "Retrofitting Your House: For a cosier, greener home" guide (recently featured in The Times) and the Greener Homes skills initiative, and has been shaped through three major co-design workshops, regular working group meetings, and the support of over 50 stakeholders across the retrofit supply chain.

Cllr Stotesbury, Chair of the Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership (HCCSP), said: "Hertfordshire has some of the oldest housing stock in the UK, and many of our homes are leaky, cold and difficult to heat efficiently. This strategy is about tackling that head on – not in isolation, but together."

Cllr Amy Allen, Executive Member for Environment at North Herts Council, said: "We are proud to endorse the Hertfordshire Retrofit Strategy. Our own Sustainability Strategy aims to achieve a net zero North Herts, and alongside projects like Solar Together and the Home Upgrade Grant, we are keen to highlight the value of retrofit, for residents, for the environment, and for the local economy. We're ready and committed to playing our part in improving homes across the district by delivering the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme which is providing home energy improvements and more efficient, cleaner heating for the homes that need it most."

A highlight of the launch event included a talk from Hertfordshire resident Judith Leary-Joyce, who shared her experience retrofitting her Victorian terrace to reduce energy bills and increase comfort. The launch was also introduced by the MCS Foundation, whose Local Area Retrofit Accelerator project funded the development of the strategy.

The scale of the task is huge – nearly 483,000 homes need to be retrofitted by 2050, requiring thousands of trained professionals and a strong supply chain. But the potential is equally big: a retrofit economy worth billions, significant carbon and bill savings, and a better quality of life for residents.

Already, local partners have secured over £100 million to upgrade homes and buildings, including a recent £40 million package delivered through partnerships between councils and housing providers. The Retrofit Strategy provides the next step forward – a framework to coordinate action, unlock long-term success and grow a thriving low-carbon economy in Hertfordshire.