FMB NEWS
FMB NI DIRECTOR GAVIN MCGUIRE HIGHLIGHTS PROGRESS MADE BY THE BELFAST RETROFIT DELIVERY HUB AND THE NEXT STEPS NEEDED TO CREATE MORE EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUILDINGS…
Leading the call for a retrofit strategy in Northern Ireland
For some time, FMB has been at the forefront of the call for a regional retrofit strategy in Northern Ireland. The obvious need for a clear strategy is becoming more urgent as time passes. With the reestablishment of a functioning Executive at Stormont, there is a pressing need for key departments in government, including the Department for Economy, to provide leadership and funding in this area. WHAT IS THE BELFAST RETROFIT DELIVERY HUB? Back in 2022, Belfast City Council endorsed the Belfast Retrofit Delivery Hub. The Hub brings together FMB NI, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, business and industry leaders, key organisations and the Council to catalyse retrofit activity across the public and private housing sectors in Belfast. WHAT IS THE GROUP SEEKING TO ACHIEVE? The Hub’s work is guided by the National Retrofit Strategy produced by the Construction Leadership Council, of which the FMB is a key member. Its goal is to ensure that eight key elements of the strategy are progressed. These are: • Leadership and communications • Supporting learning and innovation culture focused on transition • Performance standards • Finance and grants • Training and accreditation • Materials and equipment • Creating customer demand • Compliance and quality regime The Hub’s principal duties include: • Identifying retrofit opportunities across Belfast and helping to bring together
construction businesses that can meet those opportunities. • Setting the bar for retrofit standards in Belfast. • Identifying support needed for economic activity, skills and jobs in the area that support retrofitting. • Drawing businesses together to find and release funding. • Promoting a collaborative approach to solutions and knowledge sharing with owners and tenants. • Promoting retrofit and ensuring
have provided feedback to offer industry experience and insight from those working in this area. WHAT’S NEEDED NOW? Both local councils and central government, along with the devolved Executive, now need to action strong pilot projects and shared learnings. Whilst there is no doubt that there are common themes from each government department around a lack of funding, and a stretch on resources, we need to see some movement towards delivery. There are many ’small wins’ that can be made in this area at a lower cost in order to start delivery and make progress. Local industry and FMB members are ready to upskill and create changes that will have a positive impact on energy bills and create more efficient homes and buildings, as well as reducing carbon emissions and costs. We need to see policy makers and key executive departments provide leadership and support a change within society to value our existing housing stock.
stakeholders across the city are engaged – supporting them with complementary initiatives.
WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE? Now some 18 months on, a collaborative push within working groups alongside discussions in government have established a strong framework for workstreams and developed a plan for how the strategy can be delivered by a skilled, competent workforce. Consultations from Stormont departments
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