Publishing today, our new report, commissioned by the London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC), calls for urgent action to ensure that London’s push toward net-zero carbon emissions through home retrofits leaves no one behind.
A just transition in London’s retrofits highlights the urgent action needed to make energy-efficiency improvements to nearly 53% of London’s homes by 2030 — a crucial step in cutting the city’s residential CO₂ emissions, accounting for 32% of its total. However, the report warns that current retrofit initiatives risk excluding the very communities most affected by poor housing, including older adults, disabled people, ethnic minority groups, and low-income renters.
Working with communities
Despite strong public motivation for change, with 89% of Londoners wanting climate action, retrofitting in London is occurring at just one-tenth of the pace required. The report draws on extensive participatory research with Londoners from across the city and finds widespread barriers to retrofit participation, including affordability concerns, distrust in providers, and lack of accessible information.
Mete Coban, London’s Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, said:
Tackling the climate emergency must go hand in hand with tackling inequality. Retrofitting our homes not only cuts carbon emissions but also helps Londoners reduce their bills, which is more important than ever given the rising cost of living. This report is a timely reminder that we must listen to and work with communities across the capital to build a fairer, greener London for everyone.”
The report finds:
- Retrofit progress is far too slow. London is retrofitting homes at only 10% of the pace needed to meet its climate targets. Systemic barriers— including underfunding, a fragmented workforce, and low consumer confidence—are holding progress back.
- Those who need retrofits most are often excluded. Vulnerable groups such as disabled people, older adults, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, renters, and low-income households face the greatest housing-related risks, but are also the least likely to benefit from current schemes.
- Residents want to engage—but face major obstacles. Londoners are motivated to act on climate and want healthier, warmer homes, but are often let down by inaccessible information, lack of support, and a sense of disempowerment in a complex and technical system.
- Quality and experience vary dramatically. Residents report inconsistent retrofit outcomes. Communication breakdowns, disruption during works, and a lack of agency over decisions undermine trust and satisfaction.
- Trust is critical. Successful retrofit programmes depend on trust between residents and providers, which is often lacking—particularly in communities that have been historically marginalised or poorly served.
- One-size-fits-all models don’t work. Standardised programmes often miss the mark for residents with specific needs. Tailored, community-led approaches are essential for uptake and equity.
- Integrated, cross-sector solutions are possible—but underused. There are missed opportunities to coordinate retrofit efforts with healthcare, housing safety, and social services, which could lead to more efficient delivery and better outcomes.
‘Fair, inclusive’ transition
“A just transition in retrofits is essential to ensure that housing adaptation does not deepen existing inequalities and instead creates fair and inclusive conditions for all,” said Julie McLaren, Interim Director of Sustainability and Just Transition at The Young Foundation. “In London, this challenge translates to a considerable task of retrofitting upwards of 2m homes by 2030. Getting this right won’t just make our homes more sustainable, it could also bring additional benefits, such as reducing energy bills and enhancing the comfort and health of occupants. This is about more than insulation and solar panels. It’s about ensuring London’s transition to a greener future is fair, inclusive, and responsive to people’s real lives.”
Helen Goulden OBE, Chief Executive at The Young Foundation, says: “We’re seeing significant shifts in policy aimed at increasing access to retrofit and green technologies in people’s homes, and giving families more choice over home upgrades – but these will only significantly shift the dial if they reach every household and every community. This vital work is a call to all those engaged in retrofit in London, offering direct support via its toolkit, to understand the lived realities of making home upgrades, and to recognise the additional challenges many people with protected characteristics face.”
Supporting ‘Londoners most in need’
Syed Ahmed, London Sustainable Development Commissioner and Chair of Community Energy London, adds: “This report comes at a critical time – not only because energy prices are once again increasing and the cost of living crisis is still acutely felt by many households across the city, but also because the government has pledged to allocate significant levels of funding, with details to be set out later this year in their Warm Homes Plan. There is much to do over the coming months to help ensure that this future funding is effectively spent and directed to those Londoners most in need.”
The report calls on local and national governments, housing providers, and retrofit professionals to work together with communities to design retrofit programmes that are not only technically sound but socially just.
Read the full report and toolkit
Climate change Housing and regeneration Inequality Just transition Net zero Places Posted on: 8 May 2025