Overcoming barriers to a net-zero housing sector: Future Homes policy brief

The UK housing sector is failing too many residents. Millions of homes remain cold and expensive to heat in winter, too hot during heatwaves, and poorly ventilated, exacerbating health issues and increasing energy costs. Despite government commitments, progress on decarbonising housing remains slow and fragmented. To achieve net zero by 2050, a fundamental shift is required—one that aligns funding, policy, and public trust to create warm, affordable, and sustainable homes. Our workshops with policymakers, industry representatives, and academic experts have highlighted several systemic challenges, which we have grouped into three key categories: financial and Skills Barriers; Regulatory and Planning Gaps; and Consumer and Implementation Challenges. Addressing these challenges requires long-term funding, strengthening regulatory standards, developing the workforce, improving data transparency, rebuilding public trust in retrofit, and integrating retrofitting into urban planning. Additionally, policies must include a focus on embodied carbon and materials to ensure comprehensive decarbonisation and reduced material use across the housing sector.