The Optimised RetroFit Programme: What to Expect in

Wales

As the Welsh Government looks to help registered social landlords reduce the carbon footprint of existing social housing through the Optimised RetroFit Programme (ORP), questions remain about how impactful the third phase will be.

Optimised RetroFit (ORP) is a whole house, pragmatic, approach to decarbonising existing homes. Offering a more sophisticated insight into the housing sector as a system, this bespoke scheme considers the fabric or materials homes are made from and the way we heat and store energy.

Looking into how energy reaches our homes, the programme is open to Registered Social Landlords and local authorities to install a variety of home decarbonisation measures in the existing social housing stock across Wales.

The third phase of the ORP brings new opportunities for the supply chain

Now in its third phase, the new round of funding is for the financial years 20222025. Focussing on two core objectives, the main themes of the programme are: Affordable Warmth Decarbonisation and understanding the best pathway to better energy efficiency for that home and its residents.

Supporting the Welsh Housing Quality Standard, which at its heart is a tenant focused standard, designed to upgrade social homes in a way that contributes to positive health, education and wellbeing outcomes for tenants, the proposed new standard encourages landlords to consider issues around affordable warmth and decarbonisation across their whole stock to produce a plan for each home undertaking retrofit.

In a welsh Government statement, Housing Industry Leaders heard: “ORP embraces a test and learn approach to decarbonising homes, adopting a risk appetite which matches the innovative and entrepreneurial activity required to decarbonise effectively and efficiently.”

Focussing on social infrastructure could be the glue for sustainable impacts

Continuing the support for the approach to the decarbonisation of homes, the ORP: “Enables the wider necessary infrastructure to be addressed, ensuring issues such as skills development, procurement, finance models, material selections and the foundational economy are all considered and developed.”

Recipient organisations will be required to complete the proforma and to conform to the outlined format of the proforma.

All recipients to adopt an open book approach to enhance sharing of best practices and lessons learned

Submitted proformas will be considered by the Welsh Government and any areas of clarification will be raised with the recipient organisation.

When the Welsh Government are content that the proforma is completed and meets the requirements set out below, a grant offer letter outlining funding and grant terms and conditions will be sent to the recipient organisation.

Successful projects will be monitored and evaluated, with recipient organisations required to adopt an open book approach as a condition of accepting the funding. For example requests for prime documents such as evidence of defrayment, updated actual

ORP e nables the wider necessary infrastructure to be addressed, ensuring issues such as skills development, procurement, finance models, material selections and the foundational economy are all considered and developed.

Welsh Government