Retrofitting existing buildings

4 min read

About 21% of emissions across Hackney come from our energy use for heating and powering our buildings. This is mostly made up of gas and electricity used in residential and non-domestic buildings.

Retrofitting involves carrying out improvements and upgrades to existing buildings so they are more energy-efficient and sustainable.

 

Benefits of retrofitting

Making existing buildings across Hackney more energy-efficient is important for many reasons. Reducing the amount of energy buildings need and improving how well they store heat will tackle the climate emergency, fuel poverty and create more comfortable homes that promote better physical and mental health and well being for the residents.

How to retrofit an existing building

Whilst every building is different and may need specific retrofit measures, the whole building should be considered when specifying those measures. This ensures they are implemented in the adequate sequencing for the best outcomes. The process typically involves the following steps:

  • making sure the building is in a good condition, for example dry and free from damp
  • switching from gas to all electric, for instance induction instead of gas cooker and heat pumps for heat and hot water instead of a gas boiler
  • improving the fabric of the building such as draught proofing and loft insulation
  • generating renewable energy, for example solar panels

For more information on how to retrofit residential buildings, see Residential retrofit guidance (PDF 5.6mb).

Retrofitting historic buildings

We support the sensitive retrofit of historic buildings in Hackney but recognise that undertaking works on historic buildings might be more challenging.

For more advice and guidance on making a successful application, you can apply for pre-planning application advice. Using this service will make submitting your proposal easier and increase your chances of making a successful planning application.

Find more details about retrofitting historic buildings on the Historic England website.

Planning permission to retrofit an existing building

You may need planning permission and Listed Building Consent for some parts of retrofitting. The planning permission needed often depends on the type of property, for example if it is within a Conservation Area or is a Listed Building.

Where planning permission is not needed, it is recommended to apply for a certificate of lawfulness for formal confirmation that a proposal is ‘permitted development’. This confirms that Planning Permission is not needed.

Statutory listed buildings do not have permitted development rights

We encourage applicants to contact the us for pre-application advice.

Applicants should take a coordinated or ‘whole building’ approach to planning and delivering all retrofitting projects, rather than doing it in uncoordinated stages.

For more information on what needs consent or planning permission for residential buildings, see Residential retrofit guidance (PDF 5.6mb).

Technical advice

Retrofitting a building can be challenging as every building is different. Efficiency measures that work for one building may not be suitable for another. Therefore, it’s important to get the right support with the right skills and experience.

When deciding on an insulation strategy it is important to get technical expertise in order to avoid unwanted consequences such as condensation and mould growth.

Financial support

A number of grants are available for homeowners and renters. More guidance on eligibility and the application process is available through Hackney Light and Power.

Projects we are working on

We’re currently working on the following projects, which will include more details on how to successfully retrofit buildings. These include:

  • a new Retrofit Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)
  • retrofit guidance in new and updated Conservation Area Appraisals
  • co-chairing the London Councils’ Low Carbon Development workstream to identify and share best practice examples for achieving effective retrofit in heritage buildings

More guidance on retrofitting

There is a lot of guidance on retrofitting, which can feel confusing and overwhelming.

We recommend the following guidance on retrofitting:

The National Retrofit Hub keeps an updated directory of the recommended retrofit guidance available in the UK – a number of opportunities related to retrofit in the UK are also available on their website.

Page updated on: 20 March 2025