Islington’s Retrofit Moment: How the Warm Homes Plan could transform our borough and how you can be part of it
- Charlie Baxter
- Jun 19
- 5 min read
How the Warm Homes Plan could transform our borough and how you can be part of it
Written by Charlie Baxter, retrofit volunteer of the Islington Climate Centre.
There’s good news on the horizon for households across Islington, and indeed across the country. In this week’s Spending Review, the government confirmed that the full £13.2 billion Warm Homes Plan remains intact and fully allocated. This is one of the biggest investments in domestic decarbonisation and energy efficiency in UK history, double the size of any previous scheme and it could mark a transformative moment for our communities, especially here in Islington.
With a new Parliament promising to prioritise energy efficiency, reduce fuel poverty, and cut carbon emissions, the Warm Homes Plan is set to be one of the flagship programmes rolled out in the coming years. And right now, we’re in a critical moment where community input, education, and mobilisation will determine how successful and how inclusive this initiative truly is.
That’s why we’re hosting a People’s Assembly on Retrofit on 19th June in Islington, and we want you to join us. Whether you’re a renter, homeowner, landlord, or simply a resident who wants to see a greener and fairer borough, this is your chance to understand the plan, explore the opportunities, and help shape a retrofit revolution from the ground up.
What is the Warm Homes Plan?
Originally proposed during the 2024 election campaign and reaffirmed in a Parliamentary paper published on 22nd May 2025, the Warm Homes Plan is a bold, nationwide policy aimed at retrofitting millions of homes across the UK. The core goals are:
Reducing energy bills by upgrading insulation, windows, and heating systems.
Cutting carbon emissions from the housing sector—one of the biggest sources of UK emissions.
Creating green jobs in local communities through large-scale retrofit programmes.
Supporting low-income households and vulnerable residents with grants, loans, and education.
The paper laid out the contours of the plan: at least 5 million homes to be retrofitted by 2030, with priority funding for low-income areas, social housing, and areas with high fuel poverty. Islington fits that profile perfectly.
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Why this matters for Islington
Islington has some of the leakiest, oldest housing stock in the UK. Over 70% of residents live in rented homes, including both private and social housing, making our borough particularly vulnerable to fuel poverty and rising energy bills.
At the same time, we also face structural challenges to retrofitting. Renters often don’t have the authority to initiate energy upgrades. Landlords may lack the financial incentives to act. And community-wide education about retrofit: what it means, what’s available, and how to apply, is still in its early stages.
This is why the Warm Homes Plan has such potential but also faces real hurdles unless it’s implemented with renters in mind. It’s not just about bricks and boilers. It’s about equity, empowerment, and education.
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How the Warm Homes Plan could help renters
The Parliamentary paper and subsequent Spending Review announcements give us hope that renters won’t be left out. The plan includes:
Landlord incentive schemes, including subsidies for private landlords who carry out retrofits.
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) enforcement, which could push underperforming landlords to upgrade homes.
Renter protections, to ensure improvements don’t lead to eviction or rent hikes.
Local authority partnerships to roll out grants to tenants in social housing and incentivise community-led programmes.
But this won’t happen by default. We need to make sure Islington’s voice is heard as details of the plan are finalised over the next two months.
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Education, Outreach, and Community-Led Action
One of the most exciting aspects of the Warm Homes Plan is its emphasis on community-based delivery. Local councils, non-profits, and residents’ associations will play a major role in helping households navigate grant applications, understand retrofit options, and connect with trusted installers.
But we need to act fast. Many residents still don’t know:
What “retrofit” actually means.
Whether they’re eligible for grants.
What kind of upgrades are possible in a rental home.
How to ensure their landlord acts responsibly.
That’s where our People’s Assembly on Retrofit comes in.
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Join us this evening: People’s Assembly on Retrofit
Event Details
🗓️ 19th June 2025 (Thu), 6–9pm
📍 Christ Church Highbury (Taylor Bassett Room), Islington
This event is open to everyone in Islington: tenants, homeowners, landlords, tradespeople, retrofit experts, anyone interested in building a fairer, greener future.
You’ll hear from:
Retrofit experts who will break down what’s possible in our homes right now.
Local leaders and campaigners who will explain the upcoming Warm Homes Plan.
Residents, built environment professionals already leading retrofit pilots in our borough.
Energy advisors and council representatives who can help you understand what funding is available.
We’ll also facilitate roundtable discussions so that you can share your ideas, concerns, and questions, and help design how retrofit can actually work for our community.
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What’s Next?
In the next two months, more details of the Warm Homes Plan will be unveiled, including how much funding is coming to each region, how local authorities will be involved, and what application processes will look like.
Islington has the chance to lead the way. But we can’t wait passively. We need to organise, educate, and make sure renters and marginalised voices are front and centre in this national programme.
We have the tools. We now have the funding. The only thing left is the people.
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Final Thoughts
This isn’t just about insulation or boilers. This is about tackling inequality, reducing bills, cutting emissions, and creating jobs, right here in our borough.
The £13.2 billion allocation is secure. The plan is moving. But implementation begins with us.
Let’s make sure Islington is at the forefront of this change!
We hope to see you at our People’s Assembly on Retrofit. Bring your questions, your neighbours, your landlords and your vision for a warmer, greener Islington.
References
About Charlie Baxter
Charlie Baxter is co-founder of Alchemi Group and Alchemi Renovations, with over 35 years of experience in UK and US property development. He built Alchemi Group into a successful business and now leads Alchemi Renovations, helping London homeowners and landlords navigate retrofit regulations. A passionate environmentalist and active community voice, Charlie supports local climate initiatives in Victoria and Islington and is working to launch a Retrofit Academy to boost public education. His focus is driving impact through low-carbon solutions while building a commercially strong foundation for change.
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