Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the Building the Future Conference in London, hosted by the team at AssembleMedia the publishing house behind some of our key industry titles, including Building and Housing Today. Hosted in the City, the event itself was made up of panel discussions and keynote sessions which explored the future of housebuilding and the wider built environment.
Since joining Refresh back in June, I’ve valued having the opportunities to get out and about, whether it’s attending in-person client meetings, photo/video shoots or networking – so attending was a no-brainer!
Have a read of some top takeaways from the day.
Ensuring a ‘just’ energy transition
One of the most thought-provoking takeaways from the conference for me came from one of the afternoon sessions which was focused on how a ‘retrofit revolution’ could be ignited as the sector looks to decarbonise existing housing stock. According to a panellist from high street bank, Santander, engaging homeowners and consumers early on is a critical step in the journey to a fully decarbonised housing stock.
Beyond some of the financial and technical obstacles that currently stand in its way, there is also a clear social angle to the energy transition, as identified by a panellist from Morgan Sindall. As part of this, the point of a ‘just’ transition was raised which essentially means ensuring everyone feels the benefits of the transition to renewables and low-carbon alternatives.
A key example given was in ensuring post-industrial areas of the country feel the direct benefits of further investment and, crucially, see the creation of jobs and training opportunities at the local level. Referencing a renewables manufacturer who, following investigation, was accused of having links to forced labour and human rights abuses, the panellist made another key point: renewables manufacturers need to ensure operations are ethical, avoid exploitation and are transparent.
It was particularly interesting (and reassuring!) to see top voices from across the industry look beyond compliance and profit margins to ensure the energy transition works for all.
“Not building doesn’t keep people safe”
Another session which stood out was the keynote slot of Andy Roe of the Building Safety Regulator. Drawing on his prior experience in the fire service, he shared important insights into how the housing system has in fact learnt and evolved from the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017. One quote in particular summed up his thoughts well – “not building doesn’t keep people safe.”
According to Andy, Grenfell wasn’t just a failure of an individual developer. Instead, it was a failure of the system at large. He also highlighted that certain parts of the regulatory framework, particularly gateway 2, have struggled to keep pace in recent years. Recent changes which have led to a more centralised planning system, he hopes, would place a stronger emphasis on accountability and oversight. Pre-application services were also flagged as a potential way to support developers, whilst ensuring safety remains a priority.
Throughout the session, practical lessons from the Grenfell disaster were shared, including the key importance of not compromising safety features in any structure. One interesting point was around the possibility of creating multiple planning systems for different developments. Using London’s Barbican – a complex, mixed-use site – as one example, it was discussed how such refurbishments could slow down progress for other developments within the existing system, highlighting the need for flexibility in regulations.
Having attended this session, the key takeaway was about the connectedness between housing shortages, safety and system improvements. These are all connected and the solution isn’t to halt or slow construction – it’s to build smarter and safer.
Housing supply and quality
Another morning session on unlocking housing delivery with the Housing Forum highlighted the need to balance both the quantity and quality of housing. Whilst the main theme of the panel was around the key role of building new homes in addressing shortages, panellists each highlighted that the design and delivery of homes were equally as important.
There was little doubt among panellists that affordable housing must be a priority in the government’s push to 1.5m homes, and the planning system was again pointed to for delays – particularly for developments on brownfield sites.
At the same time, it was acknowledged that design considerations can no longer afford to be an afterthought. Reinforcing Part M of the Building Regulations, the inclusion of green and open space, as well as creating more family-sized dwellings were all mentioned as key to delivering homes which will best serve communities. And, importantly, are vital in overcoming public cynicism towards developments.
Collaboration was another recurring theme, with housing associations, developers, and policymakers all urged to work together to find practical solutions to the current housing crisis. As we approach a year on from the government’s promise of 1.5m homes, the session highlighted the need for the housing push to not only focus on delivering at scale. It’s also about building the right homes for those that need them most. Overall, the conference reinforced how connected the challenges facing the housing, wider construction and energy sectors really are. It’s clear that there are no easy, overnight fixes, although a clear takeaway was that each sector does recognise respective challenges and is looking for practical, collaborative solutions. Attending events like the Building the Future Conference was another reminder of the value of getting outside of the office to network and to hear different perspectives on the sectors we work with at Refresh.