SKIPTON Building Society is set to retrofit a property located right next door to its headquarters, in Skipton.

The move is part of efforts to raise awareness and understanding of the retrofitting process, which seeks to improve a property's EPC rating through the addition of new technology or features.

Dubbed the Regent Road Retrofitting Project, the retrofit will transform the 1930s house next to the building society's headquarters in The Bailey with the goal that its EPC rating moves from D up to B.

Practical insights, guidance, and education for retrofitting properties in a cost-effective way will be shared as part of the project, which is being undertaken in collaboration with retrofit specialists ECD Architects, Yorkshire builders RN Wooler, and other regional contractors.

The project will investigate the extent to which the upfront costs of retrofitting, which can be high, are able to reduce home running costs - and potentially increase a property’s value.

Skipton Building Society is also partnering with Leeds Beckett University and the University of Leeds to collect data and insights on the building’s performance.

Awareness will also be raised about the energy efficiency and carbon reduction measures available for homes at different price points.

Skipton Building Society says that it intends to use its first-hand experience from the Regent Road Retrofitting Project to better support customers with tailored financial solutions.

Jonathan Evans, senior national account lead at Skipton Building Society, said: "I am really pleased to announce the launch of our retrofitting project on Regent Road in Skipton.

"The sole purpose of this project is to educate our members, landlords, and intermediaries on what it takes to get a property more energy efficient, taking them on this journey with us, and highlighting the highs and lows of the project.

"It's estimated that there's 27 million homes in the UK needing to be retrofitted before 2050 - in addition to the government announcing its intention for landlords to have properties upgraded to a minimum EPC rating level C by 2030.

"We know this can be a confusing time for those in this situation, so we want to do the hard work for you and dive into this project to help educate homeowners on the best possible way to embark on this process."

James Traynor, managing director of ECD Architects, said: "We’re delighted to be leading the retrofit for the Regent Road property and can’t wait to see the results."

The retrofit can be monitored via the dedicated Instagram account @retrofittingregentroad