National Retrofit Hub launches seven-point vision for retrofit system at first summit

The National Retrofit Hub has published a report setting out seven foundations for a stronger retrofit system, launching it at its inaugural Retrofit, Obviously! summit in east London.

The Hub said more than 200 people attended the event on Thursday 24 September 2026 at Tipping Point East in Newham. The venue describes itself as a circular construction hub, founded in 2025.

What the report says

A Vision for a Strong Retrofit System was produced in partnership with Baily Garner, according to the Hub. Baily Garner says in a statement on the report page that it sponsored the event and co-authored the report.

The Hub's report page names the seven foundations as:

• long-term direction
• local flexibility
• shared decision-making
• whole homes and neighbourhoods
• outcomes that matter
• lasting capacity
• quality and confidence

The Hub said the report calls for long-term direction while giving places the flexibility to respond to local needs. On funding, the report states that short-term programmes have made it difficult for organisations to retain skilled teams and invest with confidence.

Lasting capacity is defined in the report as public investment that develops the people and partnerships needed to support capital works.

The Warm Homes Plan context

The report describes the government's Warm Homes Plan as a welcome commitment. The Hub said the plan is an opportunity to put the report's thinking into practice and to build something that lasts beyond individual funding programmes.

According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Warm Homes Plan, announced on 20 January 2026, involves £15 billion of public investment and will roll out upgrades to up to 5 million homes. The government says it aims to help lift up to a million families out of fuel poverty by 2030.

In a written foreword to the Hub's account of the summit, co-director Sara Edmonds said: "We have arrived at a crucial moment in the retrofit world, and we felt it was time to say something about it."

Measuring more than installations

Hub chair Lynne Sullivan OBE opened the summit, reflecting on the organisation's growth and urging attendees to use their collective strength to make better homes possible for more people. The Hub said it was founded out of frustration that homes were not being improved quickly enough despite the sector's commitment.

Co-director Rachael Owens set out the scale of the challenge, the Hub said: many homes still need improving and the current rate of delivery is not enough. The Hub also argued that counting the insulation measures or heating systems installed tells only part of the story.

Edmonds addressed the wider system behind delivery. The Hub's position is that if public investment is to make a lasting difference, it needs to support capacity development alongside improvements to homes.

Other sessions

Before the main programme, the summit screened the National Emergency Briefing, followed by a discussion hosted by Professor Saul Humphrey, president of the CIOB.

Author Jon Alexander gave a keynote on the role people can adopt when change is needed, and Immy Kaur also spoke. Afternoon sessions ran in two strands, Health & Homes and Procurement & Social Value. Journalist and author Vicky Spratt took part in the closing fireside chat.

About the Hub

The National Retrofit Hub was established in 2023 and formally became a Community Interest Company in 2026. It describes its focus as improving how housing retrofit is delivered equitably at scale. It is led day to day by its co-directors, with a board of non-executive directors responsible for governance.

What happens next

The Hub said it will share fuller write-ups of the afternoon conversations, along with recordings of each session.