Hanif Kara OBE

New guidance to help built environment specialists to reduce embodied carbon 🔨 The Essex Embodied Carbon Policy Study: ✅ examines industry guidance and reviews current planning policies ✅ provides policy recommendations, technical modelling and detailed cost analysis ✅ includes implementation advice and guidance Introba UK were involved in the co-production of this study and said they hope it helps others to recognise “the critical importance of addressing embodied carbon in the built environment.” Read the full study today: https://lnkd.in/e7rmQxBd

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Yesterday, our Director of Research Dr Al Mathers joined Future of London at Public Spaces Expo for a timely discussion of issues around widening participation in the built environment. Her key takeaways include 👇 1️⃣ Upfront investment (in terms of time and resources) is critical for trusted relationships to flourish between design professionals and communities. 2️⃣ Participatory design approaches do not always follow a linear journey or a 'one size fits all' model. To avoid 'participation washing' they need to be adapted and evolved with the community, based on communication needs, motivations for engagement, and deep understanding of place. 3️⃣ This should be supported by capability building - both in terms of community confidence and skills, and organisational mindsets to support and adapt to community visions for change. 4️⃣ Overall, we need a move away from short-term extractive projects to long term partnerships. Explore an example of a place-based research and engagement programme: https://bit.ly/4bwJtew Find out more about participatory approaches via our Peer Research Network: https://bit.ly/3qxwRiX #BuiltEnvironment #PublicSpaces #ParticipatoryDesign #PlaceBasedResearch #PeerResearch

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KLH Sustainability recently attended a panel discussion on Retrofitting Social Housing: Alternatives to Demolition, delivered by AAB architects, ECD Architects Ltd, and Architects For Social Housing C.I.C., chaired by Geraldine Dening, with panellists including Pete Firmin, Marianne Heaslip, Tom Keene, Kate McIntosh , and Paul Watt.   The discussion highlighted how regeneration often leads to social degeneration, causing displacement, loss of community, and environmental harm. In contrast, retrofitting reduces displacement, preserves social connections, shortens project timelines, and improves living conditions for residents. We need to stop viewing these buildings merely as construction projects and start seeing them as homes, places where people live and build their lives. This focus on people's health and wellbeing is often missing in today’s financially-driven world.   It was great to be part of the discussion and hear from both residents and experts. These discussions and insights are essential for raising awareness and driving the initiatives needed to bring about sustainable, community-focused housing solutions. #retrofit #residents #community #housing #environment #construction

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In the dynamic landscape of urban development, the choice between constructing new buildings and retrofitting existing ones presents a critical decision point, especially about offices. https://lnkd.in/ejqVsdiA While the allure of ground-breaking architecture and modern amenities may initially tilt the scales toward new construction, a closer examination reveals many reasons to prioritise retrofitting existing structures. Let’s delve deeper into this discourse, backed by real-life facts and figures that underscore the benefits of retrofitting in the UK context. https://lnkd.in/ejqVsdiA #Sustainable #Lighting #Innovation #Solutions #FutureTech #lightingsolutions #Retrofit #circulareconomy #circularity #remanufacturing #retrofitting #sustainability #environment #Lighting  #ledlighting

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The Landscape Institute, alongside its Built Environment Inclusive partners, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), issues this statement in response to recent events. The racist and Islamophobic riots across England and Northern Ireland have been deeply troubling. As a group of professional membership bodies committed to inclusion, we wanted to acknowledge the impact this public disorder may be having on our members, especially those from Asian, Black and Minority Ethnic Communities, both personally and professionally. Whether that is as a result of being directly affected or painful memories this may have evoked. Violence and unrest can leave us feeling vulnerable, isolated, anxious, and uncertain but during these moments there is strength in community, and we wanted to assure you that the Built Environment community stands with you and will offer all support that we can as we collectively try to manoeuvre through these difficulties together. Discrimination of any kind should have no place in society, but recent events make clear that while there has been change, there remains much to be done to ensure that these incidents are truly things of the past. The B.E. Inclusive partnership remains committed to playing our part in creating that change by eradicating discrimination in the built environment and shaping a more inclusive sector. RIBA, RICS, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Royal Town Planning Institute

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Heritage Works for Housing: New guide to adapting historic buildings for housing 🏗 Historic England has launched a new report - ‘Heritage Works for Housing’, which aims to help tackle the national housing shortage by providing small and medium-sized developers with clear guidance on repurposing historic buildings for residential use. The Government has been clear that more homes are urgently needed to address the housing crisis in this country. Building new is important but up to 670,000 homes could also be created by repurposing existing historic buildings in England. Commissioned by Historic England and drafted by Deloitte, Heritage Works for Housing offers comprehensive and expert insight into the benefits and challenges of transforming historic buildings into residential use, as well as providing practical step-by-step guidance at all stages of the process. This includes expert advice on feasibility testing, stakeholder engagement, heritage appraisal, design development, building consent and ongoing maintenance. Redeveloping historic buildings can help address the housing shortage in England, whilst also contributing to reaching net zero, through the reuse of the thousands of existing empty and under-used buildings. It is a profitable option too, with properties worth up to 10% more just through their proximity to a listed building. View the report at: https://lnkd.in/eEuPthsM #Homes #Retrofit #ExistingBuildings #HistoricBuildings

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Professor James White and colleagues at the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) have received ESRC funding to explore how cities can be planned and retrofitted for net-zero living. URBAN RETROFIT UK will work with partners across all four nations of the UK and internationally to investigate urban retrofit successes and challenges, including barriers to scaling up. This is part of a £9.5million investment by ERSC into five projects that will research place-based approaches to an environmentally sustainable future, providing evidence to support local and national decision-making. As Project Lead, Professor James White will lead a team of researchers from Cardiff University, Dalhousie University, University of Sheffield, University of the West of England and the University of Ulster. They will collaborate with UK partners to identify and examine place-based urban retrofit case studies being delivered through local planning and development systems in Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow and Sheffield. The team will co-produce a framework mapping the critical intervention points required to close the implementation gap between national policy and local delivery. This will form the basis of a toolkit for planning authorities, property developers and communities. An international urban retrofit hubs network will also be established to share learning. Read more on the #SocSciHub: https://lnkd.in/eutXSNZf #NetZero #UrbanRetrofit #Sustainability #ESRC

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What is RIBA’s Plan for Use guide and how can architects use it with the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (NZCBS)? Learn more about an important guide that helps to achieve outcome-based performance: https://ow.ly/Q98950U5b4z

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Last month David Rivers reflected on a very successful period for sustainable design from a structural engineering point of view.   David looked at some exciting things that happened over the month that contributed towards paving the way for more sustainable design approaches. “Obviously, there’s a long way to go, but I’m hopeful that months like these will become more common as we start to make some proper headway on sustainable design.”   Read more about the sustainable designs leading the way here: https://lnkd.in/eCzDcpSk #StructuralEngineering #SustainableDesign

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In our latest blog, Prof Ken Gibb (Kenneth Gibb) shares insights on Local Housing Systems Analysis (LHSA), its impact on Govan, and how it’s driving regeneration in Glasgow. https://lnkd.in/eedtqeYK

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As we review the consultation draft of the NPPF we continue to find subtle changes. Many architects and urban designers were less than enthused about the very positive attitudes to mansard developments seen in the earlier iterations. The consultation draft has watered down the references to mansard roofs and simply has it as a passing “including mansard roofs” when discussing general airspace or upward development. Mansard roofs have their place when reflective of the prevailing form of the area and it need not be a pastiche of what is already there. High quality modern design can equally work well, albeit the topic will remain subjective!

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After a complex site assembly process and extensive consultations with Camden Council, we leveraged high-quality architectural design principles and aligned with the London Plan's encouragement of tall buildings near transportation nodes. This approach enabled us to successfully obtain planning consent for a landmark 10-storey mixed-use tower adjacent to Finchley Road and Frognal Overground Station. Constructing within such close proximity to a platform presented challenges, and our pre-planning efforts included extensive negotiations with TFL and the establishment of a Basic Asset Protection Agreement (BAPA). This strategic agreement ensured the feasibility of our project and paved the way for turning our vision into reality. #PropertyDevelopment #Planning #PlanningPermission #Property #RealEstateInvesting #PropertyInvestment #ResidentialDevelopment #CommercialDevelopment #MixedUseDevelopment Amin Taha, Philip Acoustics Ltd, Sweco, Webb Yates Engineers, Damian Ford, TLG Todd Longstaffe-Gowan, Alan Hughes

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The retrofit and reuse of historic buildings for housing is fuelled by a need for more housing, to reduce net zero contributions, and to fulfil demand for homes in historic buildings. The ‘Heritage Works for Housing’ by Historic England provides detailed guidance on the process of converting a historic building for residential use. You can read about it here: https://lnkd.in/eTXbTnqF

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𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲👉https://lnkd.in/eFzGH8WU In four detailed sessions we cover: 🟢 Town Centres from a Policy perspective 🟢 Planning and Regeneration – working within the planning system and creating a Town Centre Masterplan 🟢 Feasibility studies and costs – asset class spotlight on repurposing trends 🟢 Generating value and profits from repurposing 🟢 ‘What to consider’ checklist and a ‘don’t forget’ list of hidden costs 🟢 Using Tax reliefs and knowing what benefits are available Sessions of 75 minutes each, including answers to questions from participants on the challenges they are facing and on the opportunities being created 👉https://lnkd.in/eFzGH8WU #planning #property #realestate #towncenre #regeneration #planningsystem #localauthority #LA #towncentremasterplan

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Buried beneath headlines of 'grey belts' and LPA housing targets in Labour's Draft NPPF were a number of updates regarding economic planning. Chief amongst them, a requirement for planning policy to identify sites to deliver laboratories, gigafactories, data centres and other forms of infrastructure to develop a 'modern' economy. This is followed by other references to planning policies which seek to modernise the economy and upgrade infrastructure. This is another early indication of the new Government's intent to upgrade the productive capacity of the economy. It will also no doubt result in some new and interesting wrinkles when preparing future employment need evidence bases. Which forms of infrastructure will be required to support local growth industries, and will greater inter-authority collaboration be needed to deliver the right infrastructure in the right places? Further details on the changes to the NPPF are summarised in this blog by my colleagues Seán Farrissey and Paddy Hynes: https://lnkd.in/egTUXufA

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CIAT publishes its recommendations for the next Government The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) has published its Be the change to lead the future of our built environment document, calling on political parties to work more closely with the built environment sector to tackle significant issues facing the country. Published to coincide with the anticipated general election, CIAT's document focuses on three core issues; low carbon and retrofit, building safety, and skills shortages and recognition.The Institute is calling for greater collaboration within the sector to address these critical areas, to ensure that we can create sustainable, resilient and inclusive communities for future generations.CIAT President, Eddie Weir PCIAT, said: "We present this three-point plan to the next UK Government, outlining key areas of focus to build a sustainable future for our nation. This will require a coordinated effort from Government, the sector, and communities to overcome barriers and accelerate progress towards a more sustainable and resilient built environment."The document can be accessed and downloaded here: https://lnkd.in/etPWzbT2 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals https://lnkd.in/emBG7jEr

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Designers must take a holistic approach to the urban environment, say UK Urban Environmental Quality working group. They explain to @cibsejournal how elements such as wind, water & the urban form can be addressed to optimise air quality & thermal comfort

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👉 In May 2024, Altair published the final report of Longleigh Foundation research on the provision of floor coverings in social housing. 🏠The report calls on the next government to fully fund an improvement in floor covering standards in social housing. A change in standards would deliver widespread improvements for social housing tenants, staff, and homes. We urge everyone to read our final report, reflect on its findings and consider your own floor covering practice and standards. 🔗 Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/FUXV50SsYw9 🗨️ If you want to talk to us about the report and its recommendations, the pilot tools within the report, or research more generally, please get in touch ✉️ [email protected] #socialhousing #ukhousing #government #policies #floorcoverings #endfurniturepoverty #report #research

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This is a great article from Building Design on how historic buildings can be made more energy efficient without harming their significance. Targeted at planning officers and heritage consultants, the advice outlines how buildings can be kept in use through sensitive repair, maintenance and adaptation to reduce carbon emissions. As a loss adjuster with extensive experience in repairing heritage properties and a keen focus on sustainability we love this knowledge-sharing. https://lnkd.in/e4JRzj4D #circulareconomy #insurance #lossadjusting

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