The role of Building Information Modelling in retrofitting works within the UK social housing sector

Abstract

The deadline for greenhouse gas emissions in the UK to be reduced by 80 per cent against the 1990 baseline is 2050. Over a quarter of these emissions are attributable to the 28m properties within the residential sector, with over 4m homes being maintained and managed by social housing registered providers. The UK Government advocates retrofitting of the existing housing stock to help meet the carbon reduction targets, with the UK social housing sector being ideally placed to deliver these types of energy-efficient retrofit projects on a large scale. The Government’s industrial strategy also supports the acceleration of the adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) as an efficient and collaborative way of working throughout the UK construction supply chain. BIM is already used across the social housing sector with respect to new build projects and the aim of this research is to: 1) examine whether the social housing sector has accepted the implementation of BIM for retrofitting works; and 2) endeavour to identify new areas and roles where BIM may contribute in future. The findings indicate that if the diffusion of BIM within the social housing sector is to be successful with respect to retrofitting works, then BIM should not be adopted in isolation. Innovative developments in cloud technology, geomatics and the introduction of complementary software may also need to be accepted in conjunction with a change in the perception of BIM by actors within the sector.