Not quite upstaging the event, the National Retrofit Hub (NRH) will be taking over the net zero talks at next month’s UK Construction Week (UKCW) for a whole day, the organisers have announced.
The move reflects the important position retrofitting buildings takes as a key part of the construction industry’s journey to a greener future, UKCW explains.
As such, the sessions are said to be a must for architects, contractors and anyone who works in local authorities, housing associations or government.
The NRH is a non-profit organisation that brings together the entire retrofit community to share knowledge, collaborate on solutions, and turn ideas into action. It will curate all the Net Zero Hub content at UKCW in Birmingham on Wednesday, 2 October.
Sara Edmonds, NRH’s co-director, said: “Retrofitting isn’t just about upgrading buildings; it’s about enhancing the quality of life for the people who live and work in them.
“We’ve put together sessions at UK Construction Week that are packed with practical insights and real-world examples, crucial for anyone involved in the built environment.
“Whether you’re looking to get up to speed on EPC reform or learn how to tackle retrofitting heritage buildings, we’re here to share the knowledge and tools you need to drive meaningful change.”
Retrofit programme
The programme of talks covers a range of topics, from leveraging data to retrofitting heritage buildings, and will feature contributions from a wealth of experts in the retrofit sphere:
- New Waste Management Legislation: Impacts on the UK Construction Industry (10.15am). This panel will give an overview of recent changes in UK waste management legislation and their specific implications for the construction sector. Gain insights into key interpretations, examples of necessary adjustments, and critical timelines for implementation to ensure compliance and sustainability
- What do we need from EPC reform to enable retrofit at scale? (11.15am). This session will hear from the finance, manufacturing and technologies sectors on what they need from EPC reform to support building upgrade and find out more about the NRH’s vision for the future of EPCs. The panel includes Rachael Owens, co-director at the NRH; Emma Lower, CEO, Lendology; Steven Heath, technical director, Knauf Insulation; Tom Oldfield, head of external affairs, Mixergy; Fay Holland, senior energy policy advisor, Energy Systems Catapult
- Retrofitting Heritage Buildings (12.15pm). This session will focus on case studies of two large scale heritage projects, where performance upgrades and design for the future were key drivers. Hear from industry experts Laura Baron, head of sustainability, Purcell, and Teni Ladipo, associate facade consultant, BuroHappold, on how they are balancing the needs of buildings, and their users, and designing detailed retrofit solutions
- Leveraging Data to Make Portfolio-level Decisions (1.15pm). Dr Ahsan Khan, founder and director of research and Development, XRI will be joined by Laura Forster, innovation lead for net zero heat, Innovate UK UKRI; Russell Smith, managing director, Core Logic/Parity Projects; and Tara Clinton, sustainability consultant, Arup, on how they use building’s data to make cost effective, good quality retrofit plans
- Retrofitting Housing at Scale (2.15pm). Find out about the NRH’s research into the scale of residential retrofit delivery across the UK, and how current delivery models are working for customers. Panellists are Sara Edmonds, co-director, National Retrofit Hub; Lizzy Westmacott, associate director and regional head of sustainability, EDC Architects; Hannah Dixon, architect and director, Progress in Practice
- Commercial Retrofit, Repositioning & Adaptive Reuse (3.15pm). Andrew Henriques, board director at Buckley Gray Yeoman and Laura Batty, senior associate, research and innovation, Heyne Tillett Steel, host a session looking at how developers are repositioning, reimagining, and reinventing underutilised buildings, incorporating performance upgrades, and minimising embodied carbon. This session will feature adaptive reuse and commercial retrofit case studies, and some key lessons to consider when designing for workplace users
Sam Patel, UKCW’s divisional director for construction, said: “The topic of retrofit is front and centre in the net zero debate for the construction industry, so it made perfect sense for us to handover the second day content to the team at the National Retrofit Hub; there promises to be some invaluable insight and thought-provoking debate throughout the day.”
Officially opened by architect and Channel 4 presenter, George Clarke, the show will be home to a plethora of educational, insightful, and interactive areas including the Main Stage, Digital Construction Hub, Live Demo Theatre, Skills & Training Hub, and Culture Change Hub; all highlighting the most pressing topics across the sector.
Read next: UKCW Birmingham: A cavalcade of construction innovation
Are you a building professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
