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The lead view…

Environmental regulation reforms in effort to boost housebuilding

Water and flooding minister Emma Hardy has announced changes that aim to reduce the waiting time for an environmental permit.

Insight & comment

Preparing for lift-off: Passivhaus homes in Northern Ireland

This year’s Passivhaus Conference in Belfast marked the surge of projects in Northern Ireland, writes Ann-Marie Fallon, co-director, UK Passivhaus Trust

Overheating: The silent crisis our systems are ignoring

Built Environment Climate change Energy/Environment Infrastructure Net Zero Power Generation Product/service supplier sustainability

Extreme weather is already affecting homes and lives

Campaigns like Flood Action Week highlight the urgent need for data, planning and co-ordinated action, argues Liz Blackwell, head of sustainability at L&Q

Built Environment Climate change Health & safety/compliance Housing Association/RP London

What a ‘nature-centric’ approach to housebuilding means for the UK

Instead of treating nature as something separate to us, like a property we have a right to destroy, we can reassess our relationship to it, writes Matthew Pritchard, co-lead for the Nature-Centric Catalyst at the University of Reading

Built Environment Climate change Construction Development Education/Training/Knowledge Research Net Zero Policy & Regulation South East

Rural homes face higher costs in net zero transition, study warns

Rural homes face higher costs in the transition to net zero, a study has warned.

Accommodation provider Built Environment Finance and funding Housing Association/RP Net Zero Policy & Regulation South West

ESG is still driving build-to-rent investors - despite the global backlash

From net zero to neighbourhoods, ESG has a crucial role in the UK build-to-rent boom, writes Bela Zavery, partner at law firm Womble Bond Dickinson

Accommodation provider Built Environment Construction Development Finance and funding Net Zero Policy & Regulation

How to build 1.5 million homes while keeping climate commitments

The government’s housebuilding target demands a new approach to urban design, says Tom Fox, senior associate at We Made That

Built Environment Climate change Construction Development Government/Agency/Public body Local authority/Combined authority Net Zero Policy & Regulation

Why off-site procurement can be the best approach to BNG

Alex Begg, partner at Wendling Beck, explains how off-site procurement may be the simplest and most efficient way to unlock biodiversity net gain (BNG) for many.

Built Environment Climate change Infrastructure Property services/Facilities/Asset management Viewpoints

Leverage points: places to intervene in retrofit delivery

Billions are being channelled into upgrading Britain’s housing stock, yet residents still report homes that remain cold or prone to damp and mould, writes Ida Ahmad, chief executive officer at Maesin

Built Environment Climate change Education/Training/Knowledge Research Energy/Environment Health & safety/compliance Infrastructure Net Zero Policy & Regulation Power Generation Product/service supplier Viewpoints

Why the North East is being left behind on retrofit

Better co-ordinated action between government and the private sector can deliver the change retrofit in this country needs, writes Anna Moore, founder and chief executive at Domna

Built Environment Climate change Energy/Environment Finance and funding Infrastructure Net Zero North East Policy & Regulation Power Generation Product/service supplier Skills Viewpoints

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Projects & Innovation

House builder's triumph in Supreme Court over nutrient neutrality logjam

The UK Supreme Court has sided with a house builder over a planning decision related to nutrient neutrality rules, in a verdict that could give the green light to the construction of thousands of new homes around the country.

Built Environment Construction Development Government/Agency/Public body Policy & Regulation South West sustainability

Halnaker Hill Natural Capital partners with Bidwells for one of the UK’s largest ever Biodiversity Net Gain schemes

Halnaker Hill Natural Capital (HHNC) and leading property consultancy Bidwells have joined forces to launch one of the UK’s largest ever biodiversity net gain (BNG) schemes at Halnaker Hill Farm in Sussex.

Built Environment Infrastructure Property services/Facilities/Asset management South East sustainability

City of London Corporation launches scheme to plug green skills gap

The City of London Corporation’s Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce has launched a skills industry pledge to incentivise the UK’s built environment industry to ramp up recruitment and retention of young and diverse people entering the green jobs market.

Built Environment Government/Agency/Public body Local authority/Combined authority London Net Zero Property services/Facilities/Asset management Skills

Green light for retrofit of listed Edinburgh Council housing blocks

City of Edinburgh councillors have approved plans for a £69m retrofit of two listed 1960s social housing blocks in the city.

Built Environment Construction Development Local authority/Combined authority Net Zero Property services/Facilities/Asset management Scotland

Contractor and CIH president call for national retrofit skills strategy

The president of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and a large contractor have called for a national skills strategy to scale up retrofit.

Built Environment Climate change Construction Development Government/Agency/Public body Membership/trade body Net Zero Policy & Regulation Procurement framework Property services/Facilities/Asset management Skills

How a project using Ordnance Survey data is supporting the rooftop solar panel drive

Housing and energy analysts can benefit from our Slopey Roofs concept, says Tim Chilton, UK consulting lead at Ordnance Survey

Built Environment Construction Development Energy/Environment Infrastructure Net Zero Power Generation

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Cities Focus

Understanding the impact of EPC reform on housing strategies

This webinar brings together sector experts and delivery partners to share practical strategies for managing the shift from current EPC metrics to new ones in the coming EPC reforms

Asset management Buildings Decarbonisation Energy efficiency Net Zero Retrofit Webinar

Lowering carbon while lowering bills? Affordability in new builds and retrofit for net zero

Labour has pledged to cut annual energy bills by £300 and boost home efficiency, but can net zero housing really deliver savings for residents amid price uncertainty? Join Unlock Net Zero to explore how policy, innovation and delivery - from the Future Homes Standard to retrofit - are working to align decarbonisation with affordability.

Asset management Buildings Decarbonisation Energy efficiency Net Zero Retrofit Webinar

Delivering retrofit at pace and volume: are we ready for what’s next?

As new retrofit funding rolls out across England and Wales, are we ready to deliver at pace and scale? Join sector leaders to explore lessons learned, ongoing barriers and the urgent actions needed to turn ambition into impact – while keeping quality, residents and outcomes central

Asset management Buildings Decarbonisation Energy efficiency Finance and funding IT/Technology Net Zero Retrofit Webinar

Integrating retrofit as part of strategic asset management strategies

Retrofit work is vast, but integrating decarbonisation into asset management boosts performance, cuts costs, and enhances efficiency. This session covers financial incentives, funding, performance standards, smart tech, and future-proofing against market and regulatory shifts. Join us to explore effective retrofit strategies.

Asset management Buildings Decarbonisation Energy efficiency Finance and funding IT/Technology Net Zero Retrofit Webinar

Build a skilled workforce and supply chain to decarbonise the nation’s homes

Hear from industry experts about what we need to do to build the workforce and supply chain needed to decarbonise the nation’s homes and reach net zero by 2050

Buildings Climate change Finance government Innovation Net Zero People Residential Retrofit Skills sustainability Webinar

Decarbonisation scheme at The Christie Hospital goes live

The project supported by the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is a key part of the Trust’s sustainability aspirations and NHS target of becoming net zero by 2040

Built Environment Energy/Environment Net Zero North West

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Partner Content

LHC Procurement Group launches £285m roofing systems framework

A total of 54 contractors have been appointed to the latest Roofing Systems and Associated Works (RS5) framework from LHC Procurement Group (LHCPG).

CHIC: Keeping residents safe and well

Being a housing provider is not easy in 2025. There are many issues that can keep you awake at night. As a regulated sector there is even more pressure and scrutiny (quite rightly) to provide consistently good service outcomes for residents, creating safe and healthy living environments for all.