SHDF: Learnings from delivery

We’ve compiled reflections from providers from previous waves of the SHDF, and set out how you can improve your retrofit delivery plan.  

You can also hear more from the SHRA experts at one of our upcoming delivery planning workshops:

• Sign up → Friday 17 February, 12pm

• Sign up → Friday 3 March, 12pm

• Sign up → Wednesday 15 February, 12pm

Key learnings from previous waves

• Clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of internal colleagues and external consultants can help to avoid confusion in the delivery plan.

• Work out the intended outcomes of a project. The delivery plan should be based around this.

• It’s important to be realistic about timeframes and costs. There needs to be enough time allowed for each stage, including procurement and applying for planning.

• Engaging with residents to keep them informed of timeframes and when they may need to give access to their homes will help reduce disruption.

• At the end of each project, the lessons learnt should be recorded to inform any future work.

• Most building projects follow the RIBA Plan of Work, a seven-stage process. You can read more about it in our full resource on creating a detailed delivery plan. 

Important things to remember

• PAS2035 – to receive public funding, retrofit projects must follow PAS2035. Keep reading for more information on the steps involved in creating a PAS2035 compliant delivery plan.

• Risk register – delivery plans must include a risk register. This is where you highlight possible risks involved in a project and explain how they might be overcome. The risk register should be shared with external consultants like a retrofit coordinator.

• Your retrofit team – every retrofit team must include a project manager and retrofit coordinator. Take a look at our guidance on creating a team. 

PAS2035 at a glance

PAS2035 compliance is essential for all SHDF retrofit projects. We’ve summarised the steps to creating a PAS2035 compliant delivery plan:

1. Setting out the overall ambitions for your project. For example, reducing emissions, or improving the energy performance rating of stock.

2. Once the properties have been selected, a retrofit coordinator should be appointed. 

3. The retrofit coordinator should then carry out an initial risk assessment. This will inform your approach to risk management. 

4. A retrofit assessor should carry out the full dwelling assessment to establish the baseline energy profile of each property. This will include a ventilation assessment and occupant assessment, so resident engagement will be key.

5. The retrofit assessor will then carry out an improvement option evaluation with the retrofit coordinator. This should determine what the best combination of measures would be for that site.

6. The next step is to set out a 20-30 year strategy, or medium-term improvement plan, showing the phased improvements needed to reach net zero.

7. A qualified designer can then be appointed to produce drawings and specification information. These can be used to apply for any planning consents or Listed Building Consent.

8. A registered installer should then be employed to carry out the plans in line with PAS2035.

9. Once the installation is finished, you should complete the handover. This is a critical stage, which will involve ensuring quality has been met and the correct tests carried out.

10. Finally, a retrofit evaluator will review whether the intended outcomes have been met.

For further information on PAS2035, take a look at the SHRA Knowledge Hub section on understanding PAS2035.