Building Insights

James Parker, editor at Housing Management & Maintenance, speaks to Howard Trotter, Business Manager, Shelforce, about how he rescued the Birmingham City Council offshoot from ruin, and helped turn it into a profit-making entity with a strong social purpose. He also delves into how increased rigour around fire doors post-Building Safety Act has driven an even stronger focus on the consistent product performance and training the firm excels at.

James Parker, editor of ADF and Housebuilder & Developer, presents the highlights from a recent industry round table focused on solutions to the challenges of retrofitting the UK’s homes. Sponsored by NIBE Energy Systems and IDSystems, this was a frank and open discussion between specifiers, retrofit experts working at scale, and suppliers. The podcast contains a series of key recommendations for action to drive forward these essential projects.  

In association with Dulux Trade. James Parker speaks to Dawn Scott, Senior Colour Designer at Dulux Trade, who’s highly experienced when it comes to specifying supportive environments for pupils and students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. They discuss how colour helps SEND children get maximum benefit in mainstream education settings.

Housing Management & Maintenance editor James Parker presents highlights from the recent Building Insights LIVE round table reviewing how the social housing sector’s adapting to the new regime of Awaab’s Law compliance. Sponsored by Tarmac, Cornerstone Management Services, and Ubbink, the delegates shared real world experience of implementing strategies for damp and mould hazards in particular, and reviewed progress since our 2025 round table on the subject.

James Parker, editor of Architects’ Datafile, presents the highlights from our recent Building Insights LIVE round table, Tracking Innovation on Water Saving in Commercial Buildings. 

Sponsored by Cistermiser and Delabie UK, the event reviewed the industry’s responses to bringing greater water efficiency in commercial buildings, since our first event in 2025. It also heard views from a diverse panel on the current initiatives at government and industry level, from mandatory product labelling to the rollout of smart meters.

James Parker speaks to Martin Hurn, Event Director at Futurebuild, who gives a sneak preview of some of the key features and themes of the 2026 event. He explains why the conference is themed under an alternative set of ‘three Rs’ - Resilience, Reuse, and Regenerative Design. Martin also outlines how Futurebuild is focusing on avoiding greenwash, harnessing existing knowledge not just product innovation, and working with industry bodies to bring retrofit to the core of its programme.

An Ask the Manufacturer special, in association with ID Systems. James Parker speaks to the firm’s marketing manager David Clarke, to discover how the 2021 changes to Building Regulations have driven the specification of better glazing systems for new build and retrofit domestic projects. They also discuss trends such as how sliding doors have overtaken bifolds as the go-to option, backed by findings from ID Systems-sponsored research within ADF and Housebuilder and Developer audiences.

James Parker speaks to John Di Stefano, CEO of innovative housebuilder Greencore Homes. James hears how he changed career from auditing housebuilders to helping grow a progressive firm which is moving the dial on delivering low carbon homes at scale.

James Parker, editor of ADF, speaks to Ewan Duffin, associate director from multidisciplinary engineering consultancy Harley Haddow. He explains how architects and engineers can work together to deploy engineered timber in Modern Methods of Construction, to go beyond net zero and embrace regenerative design.

An Ask the Expert special, in association with NIBE. James Parker speaks to Rick Clarke, product manager from the firm on why its focus on only building high quality, high efficiency heat pumps is crucial as electricity prices continue to outstrip gas. He also looks at why air source heat pumps are not the only answer, and how self-builders can benefit from an array of user-friendly smart tech to fine tune their heating’s efficiency.