No-fines homes: The make or break question?

No-fines concrete (NFC) homes comprise about 1% of the housing stock, in Scotland, which equates to around 33,000 homes. Most of these homes are located within the social housing providers' domain and given the 2050 target to reduce Scotland s carbon emissions by 80%, then it becomes apparent there may be significant challenges for these homes to achieve a u-value close to 0.3 W/m²K. In the 1970 s, NFC was identified as a material which could save cement and energy. However, as practices changed, technology developed, and climate change became a real force, then the right of these housing units to exist became questionable. This research aims to evaluate the future value of existing NFC homes through detailed cost-benefit analysis. The cost-benefit analysis compares the cost of refurbishing existing NFC homes and the cost of building new homes. It is suggested that the cost analysis comparison will help social housing providers and construction managers to better understand the feasibility of refurbishing these homes. Data for this analysis was collected through fieldwork and case studies where a mixed methodology approach was adopted to derive answers to questions through both quantitative and qualitative methods. The sample for this research focuses on existing NFC homes in Irvine, Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire. The findings of this research will help social housing providers and construction managers make decisions about the future of their NFC stock. The cost of a new build is £205/m² higher than refurbishment and the minimum payback period for the refurbishment activity of a single bedroom property, generally, has a 16 year period. The findings from this paper show the need for further research on evaluating the assessment criteria used when considering to either 'make or break' existing NFC properties. The current emphasis on cost versus quality of life of the tenants within these existing properties may be questionable.