Retrofit Credits Provider Case Study: Saffron Housing Trust

Tell us about Saffron Housing Trust

I’m Jason MacCormick, and I’m the director of Asset Sustainability and Decarbonisation at Saffron Housing Trust. I’ve worked for Saffron for 16 years, starting as their energy officer. My work has always focused on energy efficiency, decarbonisation, and helping tenants save. Beyond providing housing, Saffron focus on improving quality of life for tenants, supporting vulnerable residents, and promoting sustainability. This includes ensuring energy-efficient homes as part of our mission to support existing and new communities.

Saffron have been a supporter of Retrofit Credits since the pilot – from filming for the Ashden Awards to hosting us for the UK Green Building Council visit. Can you talk a bit about your journey with Retrofit Credits?

We already had a relationship with HACT through past initiatives, like energy vouchers for tenants. When I was first approached about carbon credits, I was skeptical because it sounded too good to be true. After discussions with Antoine, we decided to pilot the programme because it aligned with our ongoing retrofit work, allowing us to capture benefits from the carbon savings and social impact.

We’ve steadily expanded since the pilot, and completed our second submission. The long-term nature of the Retrofit Credits programme is especially valuable to us. Unlike short-term funding programmes, which can be difficult to navigate, this initiative provides sustained income that we can reinvest in our stock.

This additional funding is particularly important for homes that don’t qualify under existing schemes like the SHDF (Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund). For example, properties with solar panels but poor fabric may not meet funding criteria elsewhere, yet still require improvements.

Retrofit Credits help fill these gaps, allowing us to address energy efficiency comprehensively across all properties rather than focusing on limited subsets that meet arbitrary funding requirements.

Did you find the programme easy to work with? Why should other housing providers consider Retrofit Credits?

For housing providers, it’s a no-brainer. Retrofit Credits offers long-term income based on work you’re already doing. The data submission requirements are simple, and HACT provides excellent tools and portals to make the process straightforward.

The social value impact also extends far beyond the funding received. It helps us plan long-term, maintain stability, and reinvest in areas where we wouldn’t otherwise have funding. While it takes time to build momentum, it’s a stable and valuable initiative that supports broader decarbonisation goals.