As global targets for carbon reduction are translated into tangible objectives internationally, there are clear requirements emerging that target our existing building stock and examine ways to improve the energy efficiency of this sector, a significant offender in terms of CO2 emissions. However, while generally being included in this category of asset, heritage buildings present unique and significant challenges as a ‘hard to decarbonise’ resource, requiring specialist knowledge and considerations. This webinar explores key themes in this area, including what…

Over the coming months we’ll be hosting a series of webinars – helping to keep the industry moving and talking during a period of uncertainty, enabling people to talk and build relationships whilst helping to maintain industry confidence and demonstrating thought leadership. This webinar will focus specifically on historic buildings – from large scale restorations to the regeneration of heritage buildings into new homes and employment hubs, ensuring we don’t lose unique and historical assets. Speakers will be invited to discuss key…

This conference will examine priorities for housing in London, focusing on the way forward for improving housing delivery, affordability, and quality - and reducing homelessness. It will be an opportunity for key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the final shape of the new London Plan and its measures affecting housing, with its publication being delayed until 2021 following concerns from central government. The Housing Secretary was critical of the scale of housing development and the added complexity of London planning…

Westminster Business Forum policy conference Developing the Oxford-MK-Cambridge Arc economy - implementing the economic vision, building on the region’s research base and, priorities in the wake of COVID-19 with Bridget Rosewell, Commissioner, National Infrastructure Commission Nigel Tipple, Chief Executive, OxLEP and Productivity Group Member, Ox-Cambridge Arc and James Palmer, Mayor, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Councillor Barry Wood, Chair, Arc Leaders Group and Leader, Cherwell District Council and Brian Eversham, Wildlife Trust BCNP and Cranfield University and Alistair Lomax, University…

Rescuing early concrete from ruin Presented by Henrietta Billings (Director, SAVE) and Chris Balme (Ferguson Mann Architects) This modest Tudor-style house was constructed by builder John Board in 1851 both as a home and to demonstrate the versatility and potential of a new building material. Despite severe fire damage, it remained a key example of early structural and decorative use of precast and reinforced concrete. This lecture will describe SAVE's project to rescue the building from ruin.

Saving England’s largest country house Presented by Sarah McLeod (CEO, Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust) Wentworth Woodhouse is essentially two sizeable country houses back-to-back - a brick Baroque west front of 1724-28 and a sandstone Palladian east front of 1731-50 - created for the first Marquess of Rockingham by architects including Henry Flitcroft and John Carr. After requisition in World War II and later use as a college, in 2017 the house passed from private ownership to the WWPT to preserve…