Agenda item

Officers from the SPD team gave a presentation to the committee. They explained that they had decided to introduce additional documents by splitting the original into two separate ones. The first was the Climate Action Net Zero Carbon Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which provided detailed guidance on implementing sustainable design and climate adaptation policies from the Local Plan in an accessible and user-friendly manner. Alongside this, the Retrofit Handbook, which served as a practical guide for homeowners looking to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, while also addressed heritage, technical, and practical considerations to support them on their retrofit journeys.

The Climate Action Net Zero Carbon SPD included information on retrofit approaches, a section on environment and nature focusing on biodiversity, and guidance on achieving biodiversity net gain. Additionally, it covered sustainable urban drainage, flood risk, air quality, adaptation for cooling, and considerations around climate action for the public realm. The document also retained a crucial energy efficiency section, addressing renewable energy generation and supporting the monitoring of our policies' efficiency measures. It further included sections on the circular economy, whole life-cycle carbon, and sustainable design standards, such as BREEAM from the Building Research Establishment.

The Retrofit Handbook was a flexible guidance document that could be updated as needed, considering the rapid advancements in retrofit technologies. It detailed when permissions were needed, what would be required, and offered an illustrated guide to various retrofit measures. These included information on draft-proofing, re-roofing, loft, wall, and floor insulation, window and door replacement, thermostatic radiator valves, LED lighting, ventilation, cooling measures, solar PV or thermal panels, air and ground source heat pumps, and transport infrastructure. It also included clear illustrations as guidance on acceptable arrangements for solar panels on roofs.

Regarding progress, work on the SPD had been ongoing, despite a brief hiatus. From the project's inception, public workshops were held for local residents, businesses, suppliers, architects, planning agents, and housing associations. There was a formal consultation on scoping the paper last year, a Members workshop was conducted, and ongoing engagement with other council services was ongoing. They had also commissioned a technical study to explore and evaluate a range of retrofit measures specific to Islington housing typologies, which informed aspects of the SPD.

The timeline towards adoption was: drafting of the SPD would continue until the end of August. From August to October, internal reviews would be conducted. A six-week formal consultation would take place in late October, followed by amendments and further internal reviews, with the aim of adopting the document around April 2025.

Concerns were raised on the data gathering process and identified gaps in the representation of certain demographics within the Islington community. Previous engagement efforts had included various community representatives, local businesses, councillors, and residents, but were primarily attended by homeowners. There was particular concern about the underrepresentation of tenants, especially those in social housing. It was important to ensure demographic representation, including the involvement of young people, Black Africans, Caribbeans, women, and the working class. It was agreed that additional data and efforts were needed to better include these groups.

The importance of considering council-owned properties and housing associations in the retrofit strategy was highlighted, emphasising the significant implications for the Council. There was a suggestion to consider more accessible formats like videos and leaflets instead of a lengthy handbook. The council acknowledged the need for accessibility and ongoing efforts to make information user-friendly.

The issue of finding trustworthy suppliers for retrofit work was addressed, with a discussion on the need for a central registration system for suppliers. Officers recognised the challenges of cost and funding in implementing retrofits on a large scale. Concerns about the practical implementation of retrofit measures, particularly in council-owned properties, were expressed. Officers confirmed that they were working to integrate retrofit work into existing cyclical maintenance where possible.

Challenges related to retrofitting Victorian terraced houses, especially in conservation areas, were acknowledged. Plans were outlined to provide clear guidance on acceptable measures in these areas, including the potential use of air source heat pumps and solar panels.

It was estimated that approximately £1.5 billion would be required to retrofit council-owned properties. The current strategy involved integrating these efforts into cyclical works.

There were concerns about the impact of fluctuating electricity and gas prices on the affordability of retrofits. If electricity and gas prices had decoupled, it could have affected the cost calculations and potentially made retrofits less affordable for residents. The council explored different funding models and had recently submitted a bid to investigate alternative financing options for retrofits. Innovative examples, such as retrofitting Grade II listed buildings, were mentioned, highlighting the technical complexity of such projects.

The potential role of third-sector organisations in providing support and funding for retrofit projects was suggested. Challenges in timing and the transitional period for energy networks were noted, with the understanding that this could impact individuals’ decisions on whether to repair or replace their heating systems. The reuse of water in new developments was identified as an area for improvement, with a suggestion to incorporate grey water systems.

A public question about holding private sector suppliers accountable for retrofit work was raised. It was noted that while most suppliers would come from the private sector, a national quality assurance scheme could help ensure standards were met.