Why the call for action?

The key reasons for tackling the refurbishment issues using the CoRE project are:

The scale of the refurbishment opportunity is significant. The UK has the oldest housing stock in the developed world - one in five homes are built before 1918, 6m are 'non-decent' and 90% of today's homes will be standing in 2050. The SHAP report notes that the number of households refurbished to a basic low carbon standard should be at least 20,000 per year by 2011, and 80,000 per year by 2016 in order to achieve a 60% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The report estimated that the average cost of this basic low carbon refurbishment at 2008 prices was £20,000, with a total cost of £400 million by 2011 and £1.6 billion by 2016.

The demands for innovative and sustainable materials will escalate due to national climate change targets. The Climate Change Act 2008 puts the UK on a path to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by some 60% by 2050, with real progress by 2020. However, with home energy use responsible for 27% of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions, the onus rests on built and environmental technology businesses to make in-roads in our national climate change targets.

There is a lack of an integrated 'whole-house' approach in all aspects of a buildings performance. Manufacturers too often operate in discrete sectors but energy efficiency is most effectively achieved with an integrated approach. CoRE will work across all aspects of building performance, including, insulation; ventilation; heating; lighting; water management; metering and monitoring, glass and glazing. This will encourage new business to business ventures and greater university to business collaborations.

The showcasing of refurbishment products and materials for existing buildings provides opportunities to improve the energy efficiency of domestic buildings. No facility in the UK has yet been able to bring together talent, training and technologies dedicated to spur sustainable refurbishment and retrofitting. Facilities such as Smartlife and the Wolseley Sustainability Centre are 'new build' solutions - and different to the challenges of refurbishment.

The participation of leading building and environmental technology manufacturers and contractors will enable SMEs in the region to be at the forefront of the refurbishment 'food chain' as well as attracting firms into the region. Regional and local building firms, product manufacturers and suppliers will tap into a new market worth between £3.5 and £6.5 billion per year (Oxford University) if the UK develops policies, skills programmes, and financial incentives to upgrade our existing housing stock to make it greener and more energy efficient.

There is a serious lack of skills infrastructure for harnessing refurbishment talent. While skills shortages are reported there also is a lack of formal qualifications in this field across all levels - further education, higher education and trade level. There remains a good opportunity to build the qualification standards for refurbishment through CoRE.

The deficit in Stoke-on-Trent's economic performance magnifies the critical nature of investment such as CoRE. The need to arrest the urban decay in North Staffordshire cannot be under-stated and the scale of the planned CoRE investment has the potential to catalyst other regenerationefforts to secure much needed employment opportunities for people in the locale.

Strategic fit

CoRE will also contribute towards a whole raft of AWM objectives including energy efficiency, global warming, urban regeneration, community regeneration, innovation and knowledge transfer, business support and inward investment, employment creation and the provision of modern workforce skills. The plans are consistent with Agency policies and ERDF regional competitiveness and employment objectives.