Report of the Head of Housing Services

The Manchester Housing Strategy (launched in June 2022) outlined our commitment to developing a Retrofit Plan for all the housing in the city. This report is the first step towards developing the plan and provides an opportunity for the Scrutiny Committee and Members to consider the emerging proposals and influence the policy in its early stages.

This report explains why a Retrofit Plan is needed, the key issues for developing and delivering a large scale decarbonisation programme in Manchester, stakeholders who will need to be involved in the development and delivery of the plan, and the programme for delivering the plan.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Housing Services that described that the Manchester Housing Strategy, launched in June 2022 outlined the commitment to developing a Retrofit Plan for all the housing in the city. This report is the first step towards developing the plan and provides an opportunity for the Scrutiny Committee and Members to consider the emerging proposals and influence the policy in its early stages.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Why a Retrofit Plan was needed, noting that Manchester was committed to becoming a zero carbon city by 2038;

·         Noting that over a fifth of the city’s carbon emissions were generated by residential properties;

·         Analysis of the housing stock following a modelling exercise undertaken in 2021 by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority;

·         Noting that the majority of all Manchester homes will need to be retrofitted in order to decarbonise our housing stock;

·         Key issues for developing and delivering a large-scale decarbonisation programme in Manchester;

·         Stakeholders who will need to be involved in the development and delivery of the plan; and

·         The programme for delivering the plan, recognising that the plan was likely to evolve over time as we learnt from experience and new approaches, funding opportunities and best practice emerging from other areas of the UK.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         The need to use all tools to improve residents’ housing conditions, including the Landlord Licensing schemes;

·         Recommend the establishment of a Member and Officer working group, led by the Executive Member for Employment and Development to progress this work, noting that all relevant departments should be included;

·         All tools and resources, such as Council Tax and Land Registry records should be utilised to identify all private landlords in Manchester;

·         The need to use the data presented within the report to inform the funding ask of government to deliver the scale of retrofit work required;  

·         Noting that adequate funding was required from government;

·         Noting that an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) was not comparable with retrofit standards;

·         Noting that those residents who had not benefited from the Building Safety Fund to address the issue of cladding would also incur the additional cost to retrofit their properties; and

·         The need to share good practice on measures taken by residents to retrofit their properties, noting that the Your Homes Better GMCA web page contained a lot of useful information.

The Executive Member for Employment and Development made reference to the scale of the challenge to deliver retrofitting, however the report described the progress to date. He stated that the issue of retrofitting was essential both in terms of addressing carbon emissions and as a social justice issue, especially in the context of the cost-of-living crisis. He stated that he would continue to lobby government for appropriate funding for Manchester to deliver this important work.

The Head of Housing Services advised that all available resources would be used to improve energy efficiency and address carbon emissions. He commented that Social Housing Providers had led on this programme, and this was an example of the city leading by example. He commented that this programme also presented an opportunity to support the Work and Skills Strategy. In response to a specific question regarding concerns relating to the PFI schemes he advised that a meeting was scheduled for October with the developer to discuss this further.

The Deputy Executive Member for Environment and Transport stated that education on energy saving was important, noting that there were many charities that could provide advice and guidance on this subject. She advised that information on the Energyworks Green Doctors would be provided to all Members in the next Members’ Newsletter.

Decision

The Committee recommend that a Member and Officer working group, led by the Executive Member for Employment and Development be established to progress the Manchester Retrofit Plan, noting that all relevant departments should be included.