The Oxford City Council's Cabinet has backed the overall direction of a new roadmap designed to enhance the energy efficiency and sustainability of its housing stock over the next five years. The new HRA Property Retrofit and Sustainability Roadmap 2026-2031 outlines the council's strategy for improving its 8,000 council homes, aiming to provide residents with warmer, healthier, and more energy-efficient living spaces.
The roadmap sets an ambitious target for 95% of council homes to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2030, in line with new government minimum energy efficiency requirements for social housing. This initiative also supports the council's broader goal of making Oxford a net zero city by 2040, as approximately 81% of the city's emissions originate from buildings, with domestic properties being the largest contributor.
This roadmap represents the initial phase of a long-term programme of retrofit works focused on improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of the council's housing stock. It proposes a "fabric first" approach, prioritising improvements to the building's insulation, windows, and ventilation before exploring low-carbon technologies, renewable energy generation, and sustainable heating systems.
Following the Cabinet's approval, the council will proceed with developing detailed delivery plans, seeking external funding opportunities, and submitting individual retrofit programmes for approval. Progress will be tracked against the goal of achieving an average EPC C rating across the housing stock by 2030. Energy-efficient homes are expected to improve resident comfort, reduce damp and cold issues, and enhance overall health and wellbeing.
“"This roadmap demonstrates our commitment to making council homes more sustainable while ensuring residents benefit from warmer, healthier places to live that are cheaper to heat. It sets out a clear long-term direction for improving the energy efficiency of council homes across Oxford. By investing in improvements to our housing stock, we can help create healthier homes for residents while supporting our environmental commitments and lower bills for our tenants. The roadmap provides a framework for future investment and improvement programmes, helping ensure our housing stock remains fit for the future."
