You may have seen reports about widespread failures in external wall insulation. To be clear, these problems are specific to two schemes run by the previous government’s ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme.

The issues arose from the way those programmes were managed: rushed timelines, weak oversight, and a focus on numbers over quality. That doesn’t mean insulation is inherently flawed. It means that when systems, checks, and incentives are weak, even a good idea can be delivered badly.

At Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, we take a very different approach. We believe in doing things carefully, with local accountability and long-term performance in mind.

When done properly, insulation works brilliantly

External wall insulation can make a huge difference to how your home feels – keeping it warmer in winter, cooler in summer, and helping to lower energy use. But it only works if it’s designed and installed properly, by people who understand the building as a whole.

That’s why we focus on quality assurance at every stage.

Like any complex building work, insulation projects can sometimes need a small adjustment or repair. What matters is how those are handled. When something isn’t quite right, we work with the installer to put it right – and we stay involved until the system performs as it should for the long term.

Every project we support is:

• Individually assessed by a qualified Retrofit Coordinator.
• Planned for the whole home, not just one measure at a time.
• Delivered by trusted Oxfordshire-based contractors who take pride in their work.
• Quality-checked throughout, so you know it’s been done right.

It takes more time and care – but that’s exactly why it lasts.

You can see this in homes of our clients like Eleanor and Chris’s in Oxford, where external wall insulation was installed as part of a Whole House Plan. Her home is now warmer, quieter, and more efficient – and she’s had no problems since the work was completed.

Looking ahead

The national audit has shown what happens when quality slips and oversight fails – but it also highlights why local, trusted, quality-driven retrofit matters more than ever.

Across the country, local partnerships are proving there’s a better way: one built on accountability, community, and care. That’s the model we’ve followed from the start at Cosy Homes Oxfordshire.

If we take the lessons seriously, this could be the reset retrofit needs. Stronger standards, clearer accountability, and a focus on quality over quantity would rebuild confidence across the country.

Because this isn’t the end of insulation; it’s a reminder of what good retrofit already looks like – and why it matters to get it right.

The lesson from this audit isn’t that insulation doesn’t work – it’s that good work matters. When retrofit is done properly – with care, independence, and local oversight – it delivers exactly what it promises: homes that are warmer, healthier, and built to last.

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Reference: Report – Value for money – Energy efficiency installations under the Energy Company Obligation, Date: 14 Oct 2025