THE Retrofit Roundtable, a coalition comprising some of Scotland’s leading built environment organisations, has welcomed Scottish Government proposals for a new Home Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment (HEETSA).
The group said it recognises its potential to raise the quality and consistency of retrofit projects nationwide, but stressed this will only be realised if policy is designed and implemented in close collaboration with the built environment sector.
The Retrofit Roundtable is chaired by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and brings together more than 14 organisations from across the built environment sector, spanning practitioners, academics, professional bodies, construction trade federations, and policy specialists. Members include Built Environment Forum Scotland, Federation of Master Builders, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Plumbing and Heating Federation (SNIPEF), Procast Group, SELECT, and Scottish Traditional Building Forum.
The group warned that, if implemented incorrectly, HEETSAs could create new barriers to the wide-scale delivery of retrofit works across Scotland. Members believe success will depend on early and ongoing engagement with industry to ensure these assessments are ‘practical, affordable, and that the programme is implementable, with sufficient people with the skills and qualifications needed to deliver HEETSAs accurately and at scale’.
Key recommendations from the Roundtable include:
· Ensure independent assessments: HEETSA assessors should be impartial and free from links to manufacturers, installers, or other commercial interests, so advice is trusted and based solely on the property’s technical needs.
· Tackle skills shortages: Success depends on a well-trained workforce, with clear role definitions, structured training pathways, and sufficient lead-in time to build capacity before launch.
· Keep the system proportionate and practical: The process for conducting HEETSAs and accrediting assessors must be robust enough to guarantee quality and independence, but avoid unnecessary complexity or duplication of existing schemes.
· Plan for realistic costs and support: Financial impacts for homeowners, landlords, and local authorities should be factored in, with targeted grants or incentives to encourage uptake, particularly among lower-income households.
· Align with existing tools and policies: HEETSAs should integrate with tools such as Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), building passports, and national databases to ensure consistency and prevent duplication.
· Communicate clearly to consumers: A national information campaign should explain what HEETSA is, why it matters, and how it benefits households, to build public understanding and trust.
Jocelyne Fleming, policy lead for Scotland at CIOB, said, “HEETSA proposals represent a positive step towards delivering high-quality, consistent retrofit advice across Scotland. But success will depend on working with industry from the outset to ensure the system is practical, affordable, and underpinned by the skills needed to deliver at scale.”
Fiona Hodgson, chief executive of the Plumbing and Heating Federation (SNIPEF), added, “Our members are eager to play their part in improving Scotland’s homes, but the tools we use must be realistic and workable on the ground. The HEETSA proposals have potential, provided assessments are designed in partnership with the people who will deliver them.”
