Improving the integration of funding priorities within the decision-making processes of domestic retrofits in Scotland

There is a requirement to address the needs of the most at risk individuals in society through robust policies designed to improve the energy performance of buildings and safeguard the wellbeing of the elderly from the known vulnerabilities of their immediate and surrounding environment. Due to reduced funding and misaligned prioritisations, there is a need to evaluate the quality control within government retrofitting standards and processes to prevent unintended consequences. Increasingly recognition is emerging that due to the complexity of this agenda that there requires to be holistic integration across a range of service providers. In response this research examines the relationships between design and implementation within real-world practice to determine and understand the appraisal procedures in housing and any consequences that arise. This research presents the findings of a preliminary study, where research was conducted through a series of in-depth interviews conducted with key stakeholders within government, social care and the retrofit industry, exploring the extent to which the requirements of an older person’s health and wellbeing are holistically being addressed during the retrofit of domestic buildings. The study concludes by posing a series of research questions, providing an agenda for future research and presents a synthesis of insights on practical and policy implications originating from the analysis on decision-making and management .