Collaboration of the year: the South

This partnership – between Value Optimised Retrofit, Bristol City Leap and Bristol City Council – demonstrates how collaboration across professional services, local authorities and delivery partners can unlock large-scale decarbonisation of challenging housing stock.

 

Together, the partnership successfully delivered a fabric-first retrofit programme across more than 150 Laing Easiform properties in south Bristol: this type of home, built using poured concrete, is known for its variable thermal performance and significant retrofit constraints. 

 

The programme was founded on a shared methodology and strong communication. All partners adopted an archetype-led, fabric-first approach to ensure technical accuracy and consistency. Joint commitment to PAS 2035 compliance was non-negotiable. Weekly technical meetings, joint site inspections and shared governance structures enabled real-time problem-solving and ensured consistent quality throughout the programme. 

 

The Easiform Retrofit Partnership is more than a co-ordinated project team. It is a multiyear collaborative ecosystem built on trust, aligned values and a shared belief that high-quality retrofit requires teamwork, evidence and resident-first thinking. Its achievements demonstrate how strong partnerships can transform complex housing stock into warm, efficient, lower-carbon homes. 

 

The judges said:

“Dealing with 150 non-standard homes is a headache, but their archetype-led approach shows they’ve found a way to make it scalable. It feels like a solid, repeatable blueprint for the sector. Excellent Energy Performance Certificate increases, too”