Lack of retrofit strategy could lead to skilled worker migration, warns NIFHA chief executive

Mr Leheny said: “We risk being left behind England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, because there is a lot happening, especially with regard to carbon targets, energy and retrofitting.

“There are funds in all other areas in Great Britain and Ireland, but in Northern Ireland we can’t avail [ourselves] of anything yet. 

“There’s no strategy from government about what’s going to be the standard practice for retrofitting homes,” he said. 

Mr Leheny added that no workstreams were being planned, because no one knew where the funding would come from. 

“It’s concerning for a lot of people at the moment, because these targets are going to creep up on us.

“Housing associations in Northern Ireland want to build houses to the highest possible standard and that’s what most of them are doing. 

“But with regard to retrofitting the older stock, without government intervention, where do you get the money to do that?” he said. 

Mr Leheny said that, as a result of the lack of planned decarbonisation workstreams in Northern Ireland, skilled workers could decide to leave. 

“They’ll start doing work in Dublin, Glasgow, London, Manchester, or wherever, because they don’t see in the near future where that work will start here, because of the lack of government funding,” he said. 

A spokesperson for the Department for Communities said: “DfC recognises the importance of net zero targets, and the residential sector climate action plan is currently being developed. 

“Officials are working collaboratively with the Department for the Economy to put options on the future of retrofit to ministers as soon as possible after they return to office.”