Barton Community Retrofit Cooperative
We are excited to share some news on our latest programme as part of the Owned By Oxford project. A proposal to set up a Barton Retrofit Cooperative business to:
- Provide retrofit services
- Train and upskill local people
- Provide energy saving services for local residents
We’re at an early stage of development – but things are beginning to take off!
Citywide context
- Council housing stock needs to be EPC C rated by 2030
- Strategy in development
- Skills shortages with developers
- Social housing tenants haven’t engaged with opportunities so far
- Shortage of capacity to meet private homeowner demand
Barton Context
- Poor housing stock – especially 1950s prefabs
- Local concerns about rising energy prices
- New housing developments on edge of estate promising high standards of efficiency and renewable energy
The plan and development so far
- We’re starting to recruit local builders interested in “learning through doing”
- We have a local retrofit expert to lead the team.
- Seed-funding has been secured from the Owned by Oxford project
- We’re seeking resources and one or two properties to test the model
Our aim is to start small and build one “community retrofit team”, then expand and create new teams, and then replicate the model in other communities
Home energy outreach
- Profit from the retrofit will support local, community outreach, energy advice and resources for self-help approaches
- This will draw on the expertise of retrofit teams but mainly be delivered through local home energy advocates
- Addressing rising energy costs and cost of living crisis
How to get involved
We are looking for:
- Builders and Barton residents interested in training as retrofitters
- Barton residents interested in training and working as community home energy advisors
- People with expertise in retrofit and/or expertise in energy saving advice for households to support us in a voluntary capacity
Interested in supporting the project or getting directly involved?
For more information contact us at info@ownedbyoxford.org.uk
