Retrofit as a placemaking tool: why fixing homes is about more than just carbon with Anna Moore

Retrofit is often reduced to a checklist: insulation, heat pumps, EPC ratings, capital cost. Necessary, yes — but not the whole story.

As Anna Moore, founder of Domna, explains on Talking Place, retrofit is ultimately about something far more human: how it feels to come home.

In the UK, around 19 million homes fall below EPC C. These homes are colder, more expensive to heat, and more likely to suffer from damp and mould — issues that disproportionately affect those already experiencing fuel poverty. Retrofit, Anna argues, is not just a climate imperative. It’s a social one.

Homes, Health and Dignity

Homes below EPC C are significantly more likely to cause respiratory illness and poor health outcomes. The knock-on effect on the NHS is substantial, with studies showing a strong return on every pound invested in retrofit through reduced healthcare costs.

But beyond the data lies something less easily measured: dignity.

“A home that feels warm, safe and well-maintained gives people a sense of psychological safety,” Anna notes. “It creates pride — not just in the home, but in the wider community.”

This is where retrofit becomes placemaking.

Retrofit as a Community Project

One of the biggest misconceptions around retrofit is that it’s purely technical. In reality, success often hinges on trust.

Much of Domna’s work takes place in social and affordable housing, where resident engagement is critical. Clear communication, respectful site behaviour, and honest conversations about disruption make the difference between resistance and buy-in.

Retrofit, Anna explains, can be invasive — and pretending otherwise undermines trust. The key is transparency and respect, supported by housing associations and local authorities who already have relationships within communities.

Busting the Big Myths

Two myths continue to slow retrofit down:

First: that it costs £50,000 per home.
Second: that residents need to move out for weeks or months.

In reality, moving a typical home from EPC D to C often costs between £5,000 and £7,000 — and can be done incrementally. Many measures, such as loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and solar panels, are relatively quick and minimally disruptive.

Retrofit doesn’t need to be all or nothing. It can be phased, pragmatic and people-centred.

The Value Creation Story

There’s also a powerful economic argument. Properties below minimum energy standards often trade at a significant discount. Post-retrofit, valuation uplifts of 20–40% — and in some cases far more — are increasingly evident.

Anna describes retrofit as a once-in-a-generation opportunity, particularly for investors and housing providers willing to engage with existing stock rather than chasing new-build targets alone.

With over a million long-term vacant homes in the UK, retrofit could also unlock housing supply faster and more affordably than building from scratch.

Technology, With Humans at the Centre

AI and data play an important role in scaling retrofit — particularly when assessing millions of homes. But Anna is clear: technology should enable better judgment, not replace it.

Every home is lived in differently. Retrofit decisions must reflect how people actually use their space, what they value, and what they’re trying to achieve — whether that’s lower bills, better health, regulatory compliance or long-term value.

Why Retrofit Is Place-Critical

If placemaking is about creating environments where people feel safe, valued and connected, then retrofit belongs at its heart.

Improving homes improves streets. Reducing vacancy reduces antisocial behaviour. Healthier buildings support healthier lives.

Retrofit isn’t just about fixing buildings. It’s about fixing systems — and in the process, restoring pride in the places people call home.

For us at Concept Culture, this episode underscored a simple idea: communication is the bridge. Meet people where they are. Explain clearly what’s happening and why. Don’t lead with abstractions; lead with health, comfort, and costs. Retrofit is a movement of practical optimism—a way to make climate action tangible on the street where you live. If we can tell that story well, align finance, policy, and delivery, and keep people at the centre, then one home at a time we rebuild the fabric of community. That’s placemaking in its most personal form.

Call to action
If you’re a landlord, local authority, or resident group exploring retrofit, start with good assessment and a clear plan for incremental upgrades. If you’re an investor, look beyond new‑build scarcity to the value in existing stock. And if you’re a policymaker, consider the power of stability—funding continuity, area‑based programmes, and unlocking vacant homes. Together, we can turn retrofit from a technical fix into a community transformation.

Available on Youtube, Spotify and Apple Podcast.