With more than half of UK homes still having an EPC rating of C or worse, we need an extensive retrofit programme to hit net-zero goals.
Wales’s target to enhance 230,000 social homes is a promising step forward but the construction industry continues to grapple with longstanding project management and quality assurance challenges that will hinder progress. Building standards vary widely between structures and contractors and asset owners are navigating an increasingly complex legislative landscape.
In a notoriously under-digitised industry, meeting the Welsh Housing Quality Standard and Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP) goals will be no easy feat, requiring streamlined processes and precise record-keeping to ensure success. Many in the construction industry still lack the digital know-how to improve building processes, making user-centric technologies crucial for greater operational efficiency and a holistic overview of project information to align with legislation.
In line with the Welsh ORP, the retrofit process requires housing providers to follow a slew of regulations and manage the ‘who, what, where, how and when’ of individual properties. For example, housing providers must adhere to PAS 2035 specifications for energy retrofits, which demand various reporting metrics, including the number of premises involved, types of interventions and detailed action plans for product and service suppliers. Each home must also have a ‘target energy pathway’, a strategic framework designed to guide each property towards a lower carbon outcome, while promoting energy efficiency. This level of attention to detail and organisation can’t be achieved without digital support.
Retrofitting project management
One of the ways in which digital tools can support housing providers, contractors and other stakeholders is through comprehensive project management. Detailed timelines and milestones ensure that everyone involved in a project can access real-time updates and progress reports, enhancing transparency and communication.
Digitised reporting also eliminates the need for manual data entry, reducing the risk of errors that can lead to expensive delays. Visual tools, such as Gantt charts, provide clear overviews of deliverables, while automated workflows improve efficiency, giving teams more time to concentrate on quality building. Additionally, customisable report templates enable users to create tailored reports, further reducing administrative overheads and ensuring consistency across reporting formats.
Beyond task management, digital tools support quality assurance and compliance with stringent regulations such as the Building Safety Act and Part L. By capturing time- and geo-tagged photographs, as well as live onsite video evidence, these tools create a tamperproof digital audit trail to build BREL and other reports, ensuring the quality of builds.
Singing from the same hymn sheet
With many different teams working on retrofit projects, miscommunication can often lead to missing information and errors. It makes centralised, cloud-based platforms essential in facilitating the sharing of updates, files and messages. Users can securely access up-to-date project data, share information with stakeholders and collaborate in real time, regardless of location.
Blending seamlessly with daily workflows, the most adept programmes require minimal training, instilling confidence in less tech-savvy users. Meanwhile, interoperability ensures they integrate seamlessly with existing programmes, such as BIM, supporting greater data integrity and keeping all stakeholders aligned.
A bright future
Wales’s retrofit ambitions present a significant opportunity to cut the UK’s carbon emissions and provide better homes for thousands of people in need. As Wales moves forward with this transformative initiative, embracing advanced digital solutions will not only streamline operations but also foster a culture of innovation and resilience in the housing sector.
By harnessing the power of technology, the region can ensure that its social housing projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the highest standards. This proactive approach will serve as a blueprint for others, demonstrating that with the right digital tools and commitment, achieving ambitious environmental and social goals is within reach.
Rob Norton is the UK director of PlanRadar.
