Government Neglects Retrofit for Building New Houses

One of the Labour Party’s key promises before coming to power was to build 1.5 million new retrofit houses and develop 12 new towns. However, experts argue that not all homes necessarily need to be newly built. Part of the housing and commercial space issue could be resolved by utilizing existing structures. However, this would require additional government incentives.

The Main Source: Government neglects retrofit in drive for new build

What Is the Current Situation with Retrofit Housing Stock?

Rebecca Dillon-Robinson, principal urban planner for regenerative cities at consulting engineer Ramboll, makes a strong point:

“Before we ‘build, build, build,’ we should first ‘reduce, reuse, and recycle.’”

She argues that there are currently around 1 million vacant buildings in England, with 261,189 classified as ‘long-term empty.’ This means these properties are unfurnished and have remained unused for over six months.

Special attention is also given to former retail spaces. With the rise of online shopping, the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, and other economic factors, demand for physical retail locations has significantly declined. Therefore, repurposing these spaces could be a viable solution to the housing crisis.

How Will It Influence the Industry in the Future?

If a decision is made to improve conditions for retrofitting existing buildings, it will have a significant impact on both the construction industry and the UK economy as a whole.

• First, using existing buildings would significantly accelerate and reduce the cost of the government’s goal of 1.5 million homes.
• Second, this would contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions from the British economy.
• Finally, land is already in short supply, so this approach would help preserve valuable space.

Fencyx, as one of the leading companies in the UK construction industry, hopes for positive decisions regarding the use of existing buildings. We are ready to offer solutions for more efficient redevelopment and repurposing of buildings.

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