Sustainability

The  Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership (HCCSP) which consists of all 10 district and borough councils, the county council and Hertfordshire Futures is a strategic group which acts as the lead partnership organisation for partners to collaborate and identify joint work programmes on environmental, climate change and wider sustainability issues. HCCSP, together with Broxbourne Borough Council and nine other district councils are working on a number of initiatives to address local and regional retrofit challenges. In that sense, a Hertfordshire-wide Retrofit Steering Group has been convened and a Retrofit Strategy will be finalised in 2025. The strategy looks to capture, support and progress all elements of building retrofit currently undergoing across the county, including work currently underway across public and private, commercial and domestic buildings, skills and trades, supply and demand.

In autumn 2024, Hertfordshire has made significant strides towards achieving the Growth Board’s Sustainable County Mission by securing a place on a fully funded Local Authority Retrofit Accelerator (LARA) pilot. As the first of just four areas to deliver this innovative programme, Hertfordshire stakeholders are collaborating to scale up retrofit demand and build supply chain capacity.

In just twelve weeks, over 150 stakeholders will have co-created Hertfordshire’s first Retrofit Strategy. This comprehensive plan will outline how public, private and community organisations will work together on this complex and critical challenge. Hertfordshire Growth Board has pledged financial support when the Strategy is published, to help promptly deliver the strategy’s actions.

Collaboration through Partnership

Funded by The MCS Foundation, the LARA pilot fosters collaboration among key stakeholders, including local authorities, construction and building trades, social landlords, and community groups. By uniting these diverse partners, the programme seeks to tackle systemic barriers, drive investment, and build capacity to meet retrofit goals at scale.

Hertfordshire’s application stood out from 48 others, thanks to its mature partnership networks through the Hertfordshire Growth Board and the HCCSP. These networks exemplify the region’s dedication to green growth and achieving net zero.

Through a series of three facilitated workshops, participants will:

• Analyse the existing retrofit system to identify gaps and opportunities.
• Set joint objectives that align with regional and national priorities.
• Develop targeted interventions to maximise the impact of collective action.

HCCSP was delighted to welcome over 100 guests to the second workshop, which included a table top exercise that roleplayed out the complexities of the retrofit system. This collaborative approach is important to ensure all stakeholders co-own the actions that come out of the strategy: local authorities cannot achieve system change alone and all parts of the network will need to move forward together to have the greatest impact.

Driving Change in Hertfordshire

Retrofitting involves upgrading homes to improve energy efficiency, lower energy bills, and reduce carbon emissions. Beyond environmental benefits, this work contributes to healthier living conditions, economic growth, and job creation.

For Hertfordshire, LARA offers a unique opportunity to:

• Enhance collaboration across sectors to align efforts and resources.
• Address fuel poverty by creating warmer, more affordable homes.
• Boost green jobs by supporting local businesses in retrofit services.
• Advance climate goals with measurable progress toward net zero.

Looking Ahead

The LARA pilot will conclude in early Spring 2025, with Hertfordshire’s Retrofit Strategy serving as a model for other regions. The learnings will contribute to refining the LARA approach for a potential nationwide rollout.

Hertfordshire’s involvement reflects the county’s strength in collaboration and commitment to sustainability. By working closely with The MCS Foundation and other partners, the region aims to deliver an inclusive and impactful strategy, ensuring no community is left behind in the journey to a greener future.