On 8 April, Building Insights LIVE brought together housing providers, policymakers, consultants and technology specialists for a round table discussion focused on one of the sector’s most pressing challenges: delivering a fair, affordable and effective transition to more energy-efficient homes for social housing tenants.
The event explored how landlords can balance decarbonisation ambitions with the need to protect residents from rising costs, while ensuring retrofit programmes deliver long-term benefits. A key theme throughout the discussion was that the industry already has access to many of the technologies, data and solutions required to improve housing performance. The greater challenge lies in engaging tenants effectively, building trust, and working collaboratively with residents throughout the retrofit journey. Participants also highlighted the financial pressures facing smaller housing providers as they seek to fund and deliver large-scale improvements.
Held in London, the round table was sponsored by Showersave, Dimplex, Intergas and Chameleon Technology. The discussion was chaired by Elaine Middleton, strategic consultant and board member at Livin Housing, who brought valuable insight from the perspective of smaller registered providers.
Contributors included representatives from Clarion Housing Group, Legal & General Affordable Homes, Mears and the Climate Change Committee. Discussions highlighted the scale of the challenge, with Clarion revealing that 43% of surveyed residents reported struggling to pay their energy bills, underlining the importance of a truly just transition.
Event Chair:
- Elaine Middleton, Strategic Consultant, Livin Housing
Attendees:
- Joshua Deru, Just Transition Lead, Climate Change Committee
- Becky Ritchie, Head of Sustainability, Clarion Housing Group
- Faisal Butt, Head of Stock Acquisitions, Legal & General Affordable Homes
- Rebecca Rieley, Head of Communities & Projects, HACT
- Greg Robinson, Managing Director – DLO (Direct Labour Organisation), Mears
- Rachel Taylor, Senior Lecturer, University of South Wales
- John Kolm-Murray, Principal Consultant, Turner & Townsend
- Dr Marco Picco, Lecturer in Building Services and Sustainable Engineering University of Lancashire
- Piers Williamson, Chair, Sustainability for Housing
- Tony Gordon, Managing Director, Showersave
- David Patrick, Head of Specification Marketing, Glen Dimplex
- Stewart Thompson, National Specification Manager (Social Housing & New Build), Intergas
- Kyle Brown, Chief Commercial Officer, Chameleon Technology
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Tagged
TopicsFuel Poverty Social Housing
OrganisationsChameleon Technology Glen Dimplex Intergas Heating Showersave