589. Over the next decade, warmer homes have the potential to grow the economy by £174.4 billion and create 500,000 new jobs distributed in every region and community across the country.412
590. The sector, via the Construction Leadership Council, has developed a long-term plan to retrofit the UK's existing housing stock calling for a partnership between government and industry. This would take the form of a national programme for a 'Net Zero Retrofit Hub' or localised hubs, run by industry with government support, to act as a co-ordinating body to help facilitate local retrofit delivery. The policy framework should be structured in a similar way to the Future Homes Hub.
591. The Hub should bring together all relevant stakeholders to enable locally driven retrofit programmes. It should aim to build trust across the retrofit sector by: identifying and supporting clear and necessary strategic links across industries; holding the evidence base for what works and providing a safe space for innovation; delivering communications to establish household demand; and signposting and creating resources for delivering the vital interaction between information, incentives, and installers.
"We support the current proposal for the creation of a Retrofit Hub to be supported by industry and government and Innovate UK. Perhaps this can provide the technical, scientific and business focus that government struggles with." - Construction Products Association413
592. See Pillar 5 for more information on the recommendation for localised retrofit hubs.