Metis has Built the Model for Mass Low-Carbon Retrofit
Tom Woolley argues that the UK has tested home retrofit long enough. With Metis’s model successfully proven in Oxfordshire, he believes the time has come for a fully funded national rollout.
From Innovation to Implementation
For years, local authorities and policymakers have sought ways to encourage innovation in home retrofit. Yet, according to Woolley, the period of trials should now end — the innovation phase is over, and delivery must begin.
“The innovation phase is over.”
In partnership with Oxfordshire County Council, Metis has demonstrated that large-scale low-carbon retrofit is technically, financially, and socially viable. The next hurdle is mass adoption.
Proven Technologies, Slow Progress
Key technologies needed to decarbonise homes — such as solar panels, batteries, and heat pumps — have been available and reliable for decades. Their prices continue to fall, yet uptake remains limited due to the lack of a clear delivery model that households can easily trust and afford.
“This is the moment to move from pilots to delivery and make retrofit as simple and scalable as a mobile phone subscription.”
Structural Barriers to Adoption
Too many pilot projects have focused on testing specific devices rather than reforming the overall retrofit process. This narrow approach has slowed progress, risking the UK’s Net Zero targets. Both local authorities and private homeowners face similar constraints — inadequate funding, fragmented supply chains, and complex procurement mechanisms.
Financing the Retrofit Revolution
Government decarbonisation funds alone cannot support the national scale of retrofit required. Private finance remains underutilised, frequently discouraged by market uncertainty. A stable and reliable model must be established to attract investment and ensure continuous progress.
Author’s Summary
Metis’s Oxfordshire model proves the feasibility of mass retrofit in the UK; the nation now needs consistent funding, simpler delivery systems, and coordinated adoption to reach its Net Zero goals.