South London Partnership commissioned Wholelife Consultants to develop a report to identify future construction labour demands and to analyse the low carbon skills demand required to retrofit the 600,000+ domestic properties across Croydon, Kingston, Merton Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth.
Government are proposing to increase the minimum standard Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating to C. The report identified that just over 50% of the properties have a (EPC) rating of D and below, therefore identifying 50% of properties in to scope for retrofit. To bring these properties up to the proposed required EPC rating, the report estimates that in south London 66,250 person-years will be required to deliver the modelled interventions to retrofit the property in south London.
The modelled interventions include internal solid wall insulation, onsite energy generation via PV retrofit, solar thermal panels retrofit, glazing retrofit and floor insulation.
This is not an insignificant task therefore it is critical that local authorities, developer, contractors, housing associations, trade associations and educational institutions work together to prepare a talent pipeline and ensure that the current workforce is equipped with the skills to meet predicted demand.
To read the full report click here and for the technical annex, please click here