“Retrofit is not a ‘nice to have’ option, but if we’re going to keep it central to policy-making, it must be promoted as a cost-saving and job-creating route to a sustainable growth economy – which it is.”
This was the message from Dr Michael Siebert, gateway manager at the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, Nottingham Trent University, as Chair for the recent Collaborative Conversations East Midlands event.
The event was jointly delivered by CIOB, ICE East and West Midlands, Landscape Institute East Midlands, RIBA East Midlands, the Royal Town Planning Institute and RICS. It focused on how stakeholders across the sector can work together more effectively, with discussions covering procurement, community retrofit, place-based approaches and measuring outcomes and impact evaluation. The open conversation was designed to identify practical steps the industry can take to collaborate more effectively, overcome barriers and seize opportunities for successful retrofit projects.
Held at the Museum of Making in Derby, the event featured a panel discussion chaired by Dr Siebert, comprising Steve Kemp, executive director, OpenPlan; Rebecca Reynolds, head of sustainability, Equans UK and Ireland; Codrina Cretu, Mission Manager, Nesta; and Adam McPartland, managing director, Glancy Nicholls Architects.
