GMCA Retrofit Local Authority of the Year

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It was a night of celebration at the 2026 National Retrofit Conference when the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Retrofit Team won Local Authority of the Year.

Sponsored by TrustMark, this award recognises a local or combined authority demonstrating exemplary leadership and commitment to driving high-quality retrofit initiatives.

GMCA was shortlisted alongside three other finalists:

  • Bristol City Council
  • City of Doncaster Council
  • Greater Manchester Combined Authority
  • West Midlands Combined Authority

The judges said that Greater Manchester, one of the UK’s most successful city-regions, is taking a systemic approach to driving large-scale housing retrofit and decarbonisation.

GMCA co-ordinates innovative programmes across ten council areas, focusing on improving energy efficiency and supporting residents. Through schemes like ECO4 Flex and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, GMCA has delivered whole-house retrofits, reducing carbon emissions and helping households cut energy bills.

Alongside technical delivery, GMCA prioritises resident engagement, social value, and partnership with the NHS to reach vulnerable communities. GMCA’s approach combines strategic leadership, collaboration with partner organisations, and digital tools to streamline access, creating a greener, healthier region.

Pictured (L-R) Phil Mason (Head of Regulatory Engagement, TrustMark), Mark Atherton (Director of Environment), Steph Dylak (Programme Manager), Anees Mank (Programme and Policy Lead), Rory Mathews (Programme Manager), Nic Langman (Senior Procurement Business Partner).

Anees Mank, Retrofit Programme and Policy Lead, said:

“It was great to be able to present the fantastic work of our award-winning retrofit team at the National Retrofit Conference at Futurebuild in ExCel London. We received many comments about how we are leading on this agenda nationally and providing a blueprint for others to follow. Most importantly, we are helping to provide warmer, healthier homes for our residents and delivering on our Housing First Greater Manchester Strategy priority.”

Take action…

To make a big change, we must all take small actions. Becoming greener and making an impact is easier than you might think. We have put together a range of blogs, articles, toolkits and checklists to help you make a start.

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Kat Mulhall, Events Manager at Victoria Baths Trust in Manchester

Kat Mulhall, Events Manager at Victoria Baths Trust in Manchester

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