Unlocking Retrofit: A Theory of Change Analysis of Housing Retrofit Grants in England

Chamara Panakaduwa; Paul Coates; Dinusha Wilegoda

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-14677-9_33

Unlocking Retrofit: A Theory of Change Analysis of Housing Retrofit Grants in England

Chamara Panakaduwa
, Paul Coates
, Dinusha Wilegoda

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Retrofitting the housing stock is a key requirement to address climate change targets and socio-economic issues such as fuel poverty. Improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock has become a key criterion in government manifestos due to legal obligations and socio-economic pressure. Governments have increasingly allocated funds for retrofit grants over the years to improve the energy efficiency of houses in England. This study reviewed these retrofit grants using a theory of change analysis. It was noted that the delivery of retrofits was far below the required level of retrofit to meet the objectives. Although the existing government has promised five million retrofits during the next five years, the existing retrofit grants are more likely to retrofit around 425,000 houses. It is recommended to approach housing retrofit in a broader strategy with a focus on the delivery, since just allocating funds for grants may not deliver retrofit at scale.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Sustainability in Energy and Buildings 2025
Editors	John Littlewood, Antonio Gagliano, Robert J. Howlett, Lakhmi C. Jain
Publisher	Springer
Pages	348-357
Number of pages	10
ISBN (Electronic)	9783032146779
ISBN (Print)	9783032146762
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-14677-9_33
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 2026
Event	17th KES International Conference on Sustainability and Energy in Buildings 2025 - Catania, Italy Duration: 17 Sept 2025 → 19 Sept 2025

Publication series

Name	Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies
Volume	470
ISSN (Print)	2190-3018
ISSN (Electronic)	2190-3026

Conference

Conference	17th KES International Conference on Sustainability and Energy in Buildings 2025
Abbreviated title	SEB2025
Country/Territory	Italy
City	Catania
Period	17/09/25 → 19/09/25

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

England
Grants
Housing
Policies
Retrofit at scale

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Decision Sciences
General Computer Science

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-032-14677-9_33

Cite this

Panakaduwa, C., Coates, P., & Wilegoda, D. (2026). Unlocking Retrofit: A Theory of Change Analysis of Housing Retrofit Grants in England. In J. Littlewood, A. Gagliano, R. J. Howlett, & L. C. Jain (Eds.), Sustainability in Energy and Buildings 2025 (pp. 348-357). (Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies; Vol. 470). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-14677-9_33

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title = "Unlocking Retrofit: A Theory of Change Analysis of Housing Retrofit Grants in England",

abstract = "Retrofitting the housing stock is a key requirement to address climate change targets and socio-economic issues such as fuel poverty. Improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock has become a key criterion in government manifestos due to legal obligations and socio-economic pressure. Governments have increasingly allocated funds for retrofit grants over the years to improve the energy efficiency of houses in England. This study reviewed these retrofit grants using a theory of change analysis. It was noted that the delivery of retrofits was far below the required level of retrofit to meet the objectives. Although the existing government has promised five million retrofits during the next five years, the existing retrofit grants are more likely to retrofit around 425,000 houses. It is recommended to approach housing retrofit in a broader strategy with a focus on the delivery, since just allocating funds for grants may not deliver retrofit at scale.",

keywords = "England, Grants, Housing, Policies, Retrofit at scale",

author = "Chamara Panakaduwa and Paul Coates and Dinusha Wilegoda",

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editor = "John Littlewood and Antonio Gagliano and Howlett, \{Robert J.\} and Jain, \{Lakhmi C. \}",

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note = "17th KES International Conference on Sustainability and Energy in Buildings 2025, SEB2025 ; Conference date: 17-09-2025 Through 19-09-2025",

}

Panakaduwa, C, Coates, P & Wilegoda, D 2026, Unlocking Retrofit: A Theory of Change Analysis of Housing Retrofit Grants in England. in J Littlewood, A Gagliano, RJ Howlett & LC Jain (eds), Sustainability in Energy and Buildings 2025. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol. 470, Springer, pp. 348-357, 17th KES International Conference on Sustainability and Energy in Buildings 2025, Catania, Italy, 17/09/25. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-14677-9_33

Unlocking Retrofit: A Theory of Change Analysis of Housing Retrofit Grants in England. / Panakaduwa, Chamara; Coates, Paul; Wilegoda, Dinusha.
Sustainability in Energy and Buildings 2025. ed. / John Littlewood; Antonio Gagliano; Robert J. Howlett; Lakhmi C. Jain. Springer, 2026. p. 348-357 (Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies; Vol. 470).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - Unlocking Retrofit: A Theory of Change Analysis of Housing Retrofit Grants in England

AU - Panakaduwa, Chamara

AU - Coates, Paul

AU - Wilegoda, Dinusha

PY - 2026/4/1

Y1 - 2026/4/1

N2 - Retrofitting the housing stock is a key requirement to address climate change targets and socio-economic issues such as fuel poverty. Improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock has become a key criterion in government manifestos due to legal obligations and socio-economic pressure. Governments have increasingly allocated funds for retrofit grants over the years to improve the energy efficiency of houses in England. This study reviewed these retrofit grants using a theory of change analysis. It was noted that the delivery of retrofits was far below the required level of retrofit to meet the objectives. Although the existing government has promised five million retrofits during the next five years, the existing retrofit grants are more likely to retrofit around 425,000 houses. It is recommended to approach housing retrofit in a broader strategy with a focus on the delivery, since just allocating funds for grants may not deliver retrofit at scale.

AB - Retrofitting the housing stock is a key requirement to address climate change targets and socio-economic issues such as fuel poverty. Improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock has become a key criterion in government manifestos due to legal obligations and socio-economic pressure. Governments have increasingly allocated funds for retrofit grants over the years to improve the energy efficiency of houses in England. This study reviewed these retrofit grants using a theory of change analysis. It was noted that the delivery of retrofits was far below the required level of retrofit to meet the objectives. Although the existing government has promised five million retrofits during the next five years, the existing retrofit grants are more likely to retrofit around 425,000 houses. It is recommended to approach housing retrofit in a broader strategy with a focus on the delivery, since just allocating funds for grants may not deliver retrofit at scale.

KW - England

KW - Grants

KW - Housing

KW - Policies

KW - Retrofit at scale

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105041024457

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M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 9783032146762

T3 - Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies

SP - 348

EP - 357

BT - Sustainability in Energy and Buildings 2025

A2 - Littlewood, John

A2 - Gagliano, Antonio

A2 - Howlett, Robert J.

A2 - Jain, Lakhmi C.

PB - Springer

T2 - 17th KES International Conference on Sustainability and Energy in Buildings 2025

Y2 - 17 September 2025 through 19 September 2025

ER -

Unlocking Retrofit: A Theory of Change Analysis of Housing Retrofit Grants in England

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this