PROJECTS & INNOVATION

We need to learn from doing. Read about practical developments and innovation that is moving the decarbonisation of homes and buildings forward.

London boroughs call for £194m funding to retrofit 20,000 homes

London boroughs have called for a £194m boost from government to retrofit 20,000 homes.

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.

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

Kent new town to run on solar-powered ‘smart grid’

An 8,500-home development near Folkestone, Kent will run on a solar-powered “smart grid”, helping to make it one of the UK’s first all-electric new towns

Built Environment Construction Development Finance and funding Infrastructure Local authority/Combined authority Net Zero Power Generation Product/service supplier Property services/Facilities/Asset management South East

Environment Bank founder calls for biodiversity net gain to shift offsite

The founder of Environment Bank has called for the delivery of the biodiversity net gain (BNG) policy to shift offsite

Built Environment Climate change Construction Development Education/Training/Knowledge Research Energy/Environment Finance and funding Government/Agency/Public body Health & safety/compliance Infrastructure Local authority/Combined authority Net Zero Policy & Regulation

Expert panel to review substandard retrofits installed under government schemes

Ministers have set up an expert panel to review substandard insulation retrofits that were installed under government-backed schemes.

Built Environment Climate change Education/Training/Knowledge Research Energy/Environment Finance and funding Government/Agency/Public body Housing Association/RP Local authority/Combined authority Net Zero Policy & Regulation Power Generation Product/service supplier Property services/Facilities/Asset management Skills

Leeds City Council searches for development partner for city centre heat network

Leeds City Council has launched its search for a development partner to develop a heat network in its city centre

Built Environment Climate change Energy/Environment Leeds Local authority/Combined authority Net Zero Policy & Regulation Power Generation Procurement framework Yorkshire and the Humber

Edinburgh heat networks could create £2.1bn in environmental and social benefits

Deploying low-carbon heat networks and energy-efficiency upgrades across Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian could create up to £2.1bn in environmental and social benefits over the next 25 years, according to the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI).

Built Environment Infrastructure Local authority/Combined authority Net Zero Policy & Regulation Power Generation Property services/Facilities/Asset management Scotland

Successful bidders announced for Round 8 of Heat Network Efficiency Scheme

Councils, housing associations and build-to-rent landlords are among the successful bidders for Round 8 of the government’s Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES).

Built Environment Finance and funding Government/Agency/Public body Housing Association/RP Infrastructure Local authority/Combined authority Net Zero Policy & Regulation

ENGAGE IN THE DEBATE

Webinar recordings

Unlock Net Zero hosts monthly webinars focused on connecting our audience in the practical transition to net zero.

Unlock Net Zero Live

Unlock Net Zero Live brings the UK housing and built environment sectors together to push forward bold conversations and practical solutions to decarbonise our homes and places at both pace and scale

Housing 2025

Housing, Europe’s largest housing festival, will take place on 25 - 27 June 2024 at Manchester Central

Partner Content

The dignity of tenants is paramount and that requires frameworks delivering warm, safe homes at speed

Procurement frameworks are often seen as back-office tools, but when designed with resident wellbeing in mind they become vital levers for delivering safer and warmer homes, says Rory Evans, regional director at LHC

Contractors sought for major public buildings framework

Applications for the latest public buildings framework from LHC Procurement Group (LHCPG) – worth a total of £1.5bn – are open until 9 December 2025.

New Chair leads future expansion strategy for public sector procurement body

Public sector procurement specialist LHC Procurement Group has appointed Dame Maria Miller DBE as its new chair from 14 October 2025.

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.