'It's about quality of life': Can Birmingham's Retrofit House help fix the UK's terrible housing?

Birmingham's Retrofit House offers more than just an innovative take on retraining old houses - it represents a much-needed shift in how we approach the UK's subpar housing.

As visitors explore No 33 Link Road, they're not just seeing cutting-edge domestic upgrades; they're witnessing a social revolution. Every surface, every material, and every adaptation tells a story of community-led innovation. Local residents are learning DIY skills, attending workshops on eco-friendly materials, and even participating in doughnut economics discussions - all aimed at addressing the climate crisis.

Civic Square, the group behind Retrofit House, acknowledges that past attempts to tackle retrofit have fallen short. Successive governments' efforts to provide funding and support for homeowners have been haphazard, with schemes like the Home Upgrade Grant and Local Authority Delivery proving prescriptive rather than practical. The result? UK housing stock remains some of Europe's worst.

Retrofit House is an opportunity to turn this around. Immy Kaur, co-founder and director, notes that retrofit isn't just about reducing energy consumption or increasing property values - it's about improving quality of life. This project demonstrates the power of collaboration, social value, and environmental sustainability. By embedding knowledge locally, Civic Square aims to empower communities to drive positive change.

Fundraising from philanthropic organisations like the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has allowed Retrofit House to flourish. Kaur advises charities with deep pockets to take notice - this is a chance to support meaningful projects that genuinely address societal issues. Meanwhile, local partnerships and community engagement are key; Civic Square's mantra of "many hands" acknowledges that no single entity can tackle this challenge alone.

Birmingham council may not be ready for Retrofit House just yet, but the project serves as a beacon for what could be achieved with bold policy shifts and collaborative approaches. As Kaur cautions, "Local government don't have capacity for this." Instead, Retrofit House acts as an exemplar - a model that can inspire policymakers to rethink their priorities.

Ultimately, Birmingham's Retrofit House represents more than just a clever renovation project; it symbolises a broader cultural shift towards valuing social value and environmental sustainability in our homes.

man, i'm not holding my breath for this retrofit thingy to catch on anywhere else ... all these fancy materials and workshops are cool, but what about the people who can't afford to fix up their own houses? i mean, i've lived in birmingham for years and seen families stuck with dodgy roofs and broken boilers because they can't scrounge up the cash. Retrofit house is a nice idea, but it's just a band-aid on a bigger problem ... we need systemic change, not just some fancy community-led project to make everyone feel good

I'm lovin' the vibe of this Retrofit House project ! It's like, they're not just fixin' up old houses, they're changin' the way we think about community and sustainability . I mean, who wouldn't want to learn DIY skills or participate in doughnut economics discussions? It's all about empowerin' people to make a difference and takin' ownership of their homes . The fact that they're gettin' funding from philanthropic orgs is a big plus too . We should def be lookin' at ways to support projects like this and help create a more sustainable future . Civic Square's "many hands" approach is spot on , we need more collaboration and community engagement when it comes to tackles big issues like climate change

I think it's about time we start taking UK housing seriously Retrofit House is showing us that community-led innovation can actually make a difference . We need to get beyond just funding homeowners and actually support them in making changes that benefit everyone . And I love the idea of DIY skills and eco-friendly materials – it's about empowering communities, not just handing out grants . The fact that philanthropic orgs are getting on board is a big deal too . We need more projects like this to inspire policymakers to change their priorities

I'm loving the community-led approach they're taking here! It's like they're saying, "Hey, governments might not be getting it right, let's take matters into our own hands." I mean, who needs funding and support from successive governments when you've got passionate residents willing to roll up their sleeves? It's all about local ownership and empowerment. But, let's be real, what happens when the government does start to get on board? Are they gonna try to water down the community-led approach or just step in with a one-size-fits-all solution? We need to see some bold policy shifts from policymakers, not just tokenistic support. And while it's great that charities are backing this project, we also need to think about how we can create systemic change that doesn't rely on philanthropy alone.

I think its pretty crazy how some ppl are still mad at civic sqares approach... like retrofit house is an actual game changer , and ppl r acting like its just some fancy renovation , when really its about community empowerment & sustainable living . I mean, who says govts gotta foot the bill for every single homeowners' project? philanthropic orgs r stepping up & it's not all bad news . But seriously, retrofit house is a model we should be emulating, not just in birmingham but across the uk . Lets get real about prioritizing social value over property prices .

I'm actually kinda worried now... We've been talking about this for years and the UK still has some of Europe's worst housing . Retrofit House is trying to change that, but we need more than just a few charity-funded projects to make a real difference . What we really need is for our government to step up and provide the funding and support that homeowners actually need . Until then, it's just a bunch of innovative ideas with limited resources . I'm excited to see where this project goes, but let's not get our hopes up too high

[Image of a smiling house with a green heart]
[Meme of a person trying to fix a leaky faucet, but ending up making a mess]
[Animated GIF of a community coming together, with people from different backgrounds holding hands and smiling]
[A picture of a doughnut with a big X through it, replaced by a green and white swirly pattern] (climate crisis is no joke!)
[Meme of a person looking at a energy bill, with a shocked expression]
[Image of a house with solar panels on the roof, surrounded by trees and flowers]
[GIF of a community-led renovation project, with people hammering nails and installing new windows]

omg I'm loving this retrofit house thingy , like, who wouldn't wanna live in a home that's not only eco-friendly but also super community-driven? it's so refreshing to see ppl comin together to create change instead of just throwin money at a problem. and can we talk about how cool the doughnut economics discussions are? like, I know it sounds weird, but hear me out - it's all about creatin value in non-monetary ways, which is, like, totally relevant to today's world . anywayz, Retrofit House is def a beacon for what's possible when we put social value and sustainability first

I'm lovin' the vibes of this Retrofit House thingy ! It's like, we've been sleepwalking through how to tackle our housing crisis for far too long, and someone's finally wakin' us up with a dose of community-led innovation . I mean, who needs fancy government schemes when you can have local residents learnin' DIY skills and participatin' in doughnut economics discussions over a cuppa? ️ It's all about empowerin' communities to drive change, man.

Now, I know the UK's got some dodgy history when it comes to housing policy , but Retrofit House is like a breath of fresh air. It's showin' us that with the right approach – collaboration, social value, and environmental sustainability – we can create somethin' truly special. And I love how Civic Square's gettin' funding from philanthropic orgs; it's like they're sayin', "Hey, we need your cash to make a difference!"

But here's the thing: Retrofit House ain't just some feel-good project; it's a call to arms . It's sayin' that our homes should be more than just places to live – they should be livin' spaces that promote social value and environmental sustainability. And if we're gonna make this happen, we need policymakers to get on board and rethink their priorities .

Anyway, I'm lovin' the Retro House vibe , and I think it's high time we startedvaluin' social value and environmental sustainability in our homes. Bring it on!

I'm literally so inspired by this! The way they're making community-led innovation the focus is exactly what we need, you know? It's not just about fixing old houses, it's about building a better life for people. And I love that they're involving local residents in the process - it's all about collective power . Can we PLEASE see more of this kind of thing happening across the UK?

I'm loving the vibe of this retrofit house project in Birmingham! It's like they're saying, "Hey, we can do better!" The way they're engaging with the community, teaching DIY skills, and discussing climate crisis solutions is so inspiring . And you know what? I think it's time for us to rethink how we approach housing in the UK . We need more projects like this that prioritize social value and environmental sustainability over just making a profit . It's not rocket science, but it does take a village (or in this case, a community) to make it happen . Let's keep pushing for change and supporting initiatives like Retrofit House !

so i think retrofit house is like, totally changing the game for uk housing like they're not just renovating old houses but creating a movement where people are coming together to make a change and it's all about community-led innovation and social value and yeah civic square is right that government schemes have been lacking but retrofit house is showing us what's possible with the right partnerships and funding and i'm loving how immy kaur is calling out for more philanthropic support to charities who wanna make a difference