Purpose

PPRB task group on Domestic Retrofit final
report and recommendations for consideration by the
committee.

Content

RESOLVED that the committee:
1. 
NOTE the report,
2. 
AGREE the 16 recommendations listed in paragraph 5 *
3. 
NOTE how the recommendations will be taken forward as part
of an action plan supporting the Climate and Nature Strategy.
 
*The 16 recommendations are,
Make
it easier for residents to find out information on
retrofit
• Recommendation
One: Create a Retrofit Hub on the Council’s website that is
one source of information on retrofit. This will ensure residents
can find all the information they need on retrofit in one
place.
• Recommendation
Two: Better advertise free pre-application planning advice related
to promoting sustainable development.
• Recommendation
Three: Produce a Richmond-specific retrofit Supplementary Planning
Document to be used by residents, planning applicants and Council
officers to guide retrofit solutions.
• Recommendation
Four: Produce a ‘decision tree’ for people wanting to
know how to retrofit their property. This could form part of a
wider retrofit guide.
Support residents to see the impact of retrofitting their home
and also the impact of not retrofitting (Behaviour
change)
• Recommendation
Five: Deliver a comprehensive communications campaign to change
behaviours and increase take up of retrofit
Ensure there is sufficient capacity, knowledge and intent to
support the Council’s ambitions on retrofit
• Recommendation
Six: Ensure information on latest innovations in technology
relevant to retrofitting should be made available to
residents.
• Recommendations
Seven: Ensure regular monitoring and benchmarking of best practice
amongst other Local Authorities is undertaken to identify potential
further actions
• Recommendation
Eight: Ensure there is sufficient capacity and expertise within the
organisation on retrofit
• Recommendation
Nine: Investigate the development of domestic retrofit
targets/intent for Richmond borough.
• Recommendation
Ten: Include the topic of domestic retrofit in the Richmond Climate
Emergency Strategy currently being developed
Ensure where possible that planning policies and processes
support residents to retrofit their properties
• Recommendation
Eleven: Update planning application validation checklist to remove
the need for an acoustic report where not needed
• Recommendation
Twelve: Subject to resources commence work on a number of
sustainability focused SPD’s including Biodiversity SPD,
Trees SPD, Sustainable Construction Checklist and planning
obligations SPD with retrofit ambitions embedded.
Ensure residents are aware of the financial support available to
retrofit their properties
• Recommendation
Thirteen: Investigate all available financial levers to make
retrofitting more affordable
• Recommendation
Fourteen: Secure external financing for climate action
strategies.
• Recommendation
Fifteen: Investigate where the council has financial influence to
support domestic retrofit
Support the development of green skills capacity
locally.
• Recommendation
Sixteen: Incentivise the training of young people in decarbonising
technologies and training apprentices in retrofit.