The transition to net zero presents a critical opportunity to reconsider the way in which our economy operates, especially in the context of stagnating productivity and economic growth in recent years. This project will focus on the housing sector and will explore the evidence for investment in retrofit being a mechanism through which wider benefits could be achieved.
Cardiff Council’s One Planet Cardiff Strategy outlines the goal of Cardiff becoming carbon neutral by 2030. It notes that domestic buildings in Cardiff were estimated to account for 26.4% of the city’s carbon emissions in 2021 and are therefore an important contributor towards achieving net zero ambitions.
Cardiff Council have asked WCPP to review existing work undertaken by Cardiff Council and partners and to synthesise evidence of best practice and new research. This will support the development of their ‘green growth proposition’: a programme of targeted retrofit for households in fuel poverty intended to stimulate a market for broader take-up of these measures. Cardiff Council have also expressed an interest in connecting with national policymakers to explore funding and upscaling opportunities.
Our research is guided by the following questions:
- How can investment in large-scale targeted domestic retrofit support and stimulate the development of a wider domestic retrofit market?
- How have such programmes been implemented elsewhere, and what lessons can be drawn from these for Cardiff?
- To what extent does this programme fit with national Welsh Government objectives, and could a local authority-initiated programme harmonise with national initiatives?