FOOTPRINT+ podcasts

The Mass Timber Insurance Playbook has been written with input from all disciplines involved in the development of timber buildings.

Aligned with RIBA stages the playbook sets out what should be considered by designers, developers, fabricators and insurance intermediaries to communicate clearly with the insurance industry at every stage in the design and procurement process.

What is a Net Zero Carbon building? How can it be defined given the different factors that impact on building types and new builds vs. retrofits? There is a clear demand for an agreed methodology but in aiming to respond to 14 separate building types, can there be just one?

The UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard aims to enable the industry to robustly prove their built assets meet an agreed net zero carbon standard. Hear from the team on progress.

In 2022, the London Property Association published ‘Retrofit First, Not Retrofit Only’ illustrating the spectrum of recent Net Zero Carbon commercial projects undertaken to date across Westminster and City of London. The case studies demonstrate the importance of allowing for flexibility through both retrofit and redevelopment approaches, providing examples of typical challenges and opportunities. This session presents key findings and invites questions from the audience.

By moving from a take-make-waste linear economy to a circular economy, we support natural processes and leave more room for nature to thrive. How can nature restoration and the building of natural capital be spear headed and supported by the construction industry to create a thriving circular economy. And do nature based solutions sit at the heart of this? 

The real estate market has shown that certified buildings with strong ESG performance now command higher rental values and lower vacancy rates. New buildings must now comply with current regulations and construction standards around the globe to ensure good ESG scores. However, the real estate market still doesn’t have a standardized methodology to assess the gain or loss in asset value as a result of its environmental performance.

This session will explore how environmental performance can be incorporated into valuation and how this can be used to inform real estate retrofitting strategies. Focusing on tools such as CRREM and variables including emissions and energy intensity, the panellists will discuss how investors can anticipate and avoid asset value loss due to inaction and non-compliance.

Evidence is mounting that green buildings command a premium in the commercial market. Developers and funding partners recognise that the creation of high-quality, sustainable assets is likely to deliver better returns in the long run.

We hear from developers and agents how timber buildings can be a significant part of this picture.

Innovations in cement production may significantly reduce the overall carbon emissions from concrete. In this session we learn about new technologies and how far developments to bring these innovations into the supply chain have progressed.

1 Appold Street sits on the southwest corner of Exchange Square, to the north of Liverpool Street Station. The c.190,000sq.ft. existing building, built in 1989 by SOM Architects, is primarily let to Deutsche Bank. A study was undertaken at Stage 0 to explore development options ranging from basic refurbishment through to demolition and new construction. Of the options considered, a comprehensive refurbishment and extension were preferred. One of the innovations being proposed is to challenge the industry norms on structural capacity.

The principle of steel re-use is clear but practical issues of procurement and assessment of reclaimed steel have been barriers to its more widespread acceptance. In the last 12 months engineers, clients, demo contractors and suppliers have been working to overcome the problems and deliver reused steel in buildings. We will learn what you need to be aware of and how progress is being made.

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) presents a strategic opportunity to enhance the natural environment and promote sustainable development. But the clock is ticking. This November, BNG will become a legal requirement for planning permissions, so planners, developers and local authorities need to start preparing now for how to deliver the provision of at least 10% gain in biodiversity.