Rob Norton, UK Director, PlanRadar

The UK’s housing industry is facing a two-pronged challenge of building new homes whilst ensuring new and old buildings are energy efficient. The Future Homes Standard will come into effect this year and help to minimise carbon production from new homes however existing housing stock remains a pressing issue. Moreover, with the deadline for the British Standards Institution’s PAS 2035 coming at the end of March, the push and requirements for energy-efficient housing retrofits are intensifying.

Retrofitting almost thirty million homes by 2050, an estimated £315bn endeavour, is critical to decarbonising the UK’s housing stock. According to the UK’s Climate Change Committee, retrofits must ramp up to one million homes per year by 2030 to meet the nation’s clean energy goals.

It’s a huge undertaking and the newly announced £6.6bn Warm Homes Plan, aiming to upgrade five million homes over five years, falls far short of the scale required. Needless to say, the construction industry faces an uphill battle in getting all homes to EPC C by 2035. Alarmingly, only 29% of homes currently meet this standard, according to the Green Alliance.

At this critical juncture, to succeed it must overcome escalating costs, a critical skills shortage and limited adoption of transformative technologies to bridge it.

Tackling the Skills Crisis

The Construction Industry Training Board estimates that improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings will require an additional 230,000 trained workers by the end of the decade. Meanwhile, a recent study by BSRIA found four in ten respondents think the training available to them is insufficient and that the industry’s knowledge and understanding of retrofit techniques is currently ‘lacking’.

The construction workforce is ageing, and vital trades are struggling to attract fresh talent. Younger workers remain unaware of the diverse and rewarding opportunities that are available, making targeted recruitment and training initiatives an urgent priority. We need to get the most out of our current workforce in the meantime and ensure contractors working on retrofit projects can complete them as quickly as possible to a high standard.

Filling the breach with digital tools

Digital innovation is pivotal to scaling retrofitting efforts efficiently and effectively. These projects demand meticulous record-keeping to comply with requirements such as PAS 2035 specifications, which mandate detailed reporting and compliance tracking. Digital platforms address these challenges by creating centralised, tamper-proof repositories for data, including energy performance metrics, certifications and installation records.

These platforms also streamline communication between contractors and housing associations, replacing outdated email chains with instant messaging and shared updates. A comprehensive digital audit trail ensures projects meet quality and compliance standards while accelerating workflows. Real-time updates, time-stamped and geo-tagged photos and videos provide indisputable proof of work completed to required standards, guaranteeing transparency and minimising costly delays caused by miscommunication.

Simplifying Adoption

For many, adopting new technologies may feel daunting. However, modern platforms prioritise user-friendly design and interoperability with existing systems. While training and support are essential for facilitating smooth integration, with the right platform this should be straightforward, enabling even less tech-savvy teams to adapt quickly. This seamless integration ensures that all stakeholders, from planners to site managers, are aligned, fostering collaboration, accountability, and confidence in delivering high-quality retrofitting projects.

Adopting modular and scalable solutions also plays a pivotal role in facilitating a smoother transition to digital operations. This strategy allows construction firms to tackle specific challenges in a phased manner and scale solutions as necessary, making the digital adoption process more manageable and less overwhelming.

Interoperability is another critical factor. As more technologies enter the market, the construction industry must prioritise solutions that seamlessly integrate with legacy systems and new tech stack additions. This guarantees you’re not inadvertently creating more work, and that all project stakeholders can benefit from standardised processes and greater visibility. For example, collaborative file management platforms can help to establish a holistic network that accommodates a range of programs and devices.

Retrofitting how we work

The scale of the UK’s retrofit challenge is undeniable, but so is the opportunity to modernise how the industry operates. Digital tools offer a clear path to improving efficiency, reducing costs and ensuring high-quality outcomes, transforming how we deliver home improvements.

Success will depend on collaboration between policymakers, contractors, technology providers and housing associations to integrate these innovations effectively. Now, the focus must shift to ensuring the entire sector embraces the tools needed to meet net-zero targets, future-proofing homes while building a more resilient, skilled construction workforce.