Thursday 25th March 2010, Guoman Charing Cross, 09:20 - 14:00 (half day)

Building for the Future: Sustainability in the Built Environment

“A differently planned and more sustainable built environment can encourage more sustainable ways of living.”

The Rt Hon John Healey MP, Minister of State, Communities and Local Government, July 2009

Overview

Almost half the 532 million tonnes of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from the UK in 2008 derived from buildings. Our homes accounted for some 27 per cent of all national emissions.

To respond to the challenges of climate change, the Government published its Low Carbon Transition Plan in July 2009. The aim of the Plan is to create a low carbon country, achieving an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

To achieve this we need to change the way that we plan, design and build homes for the future. As over a quarter of Britain’s carbon emissions come from our homes it is necessary to work on reducing emissions from existing homes and the government has announced that it will set out important measures to do so and will set out more later this year. However, a third of the number of homes in Britain in 2050 will have been built between now and then so it is crucial that our future homes are cleaner, greener and cheaper to run from the outset.

New buildings are only part of the answer for a low carbon and sustainable future. A differently planned and more sustainable built environment can encourage more sustainable ways of living. The Government published Planning Policy Statement, July 2009, which sets out the highest ever standards for green living, announcing the first 4 pioneering locations for eco-towns in England and offering government support to work with a further six second wave areas.

To support the Low Carbon Transition Plan and its route map to carbon reduction, the Government also announced that it will review and combine the Climate Change and Renewable Energy Policy Planning Statements (PPS) consulting in detail on proposals before the end of the year.

Furthermore, in July 2007 the Government announced that all homes would be Zero Carbon from 2016. Therefore, the construction industry will need to develop innovative design and building technologies and techniques, and to support these efforts government will work closely with the construction industry.

As the government attempts to promote an innovative and more sustainable culture through refreshed partnerships with the public and private sectors, this forum will offer delegates the opportunity to discuss how we can work together to plan, design and build for a sustainable future.

Agenda

09:20	Coffee and Registration
10:00	Opening Remarks by Chair Peter Crabtree, Acting Head of Department of Built Environment, Anglia Ruskin University (CONFIRMED)
10:05	Keynote: Investing in Sustainable Construction Findings of the Low Carbon Construction Review Carbon: a new means of exchange The scale of the task Gearing up the industry Creating a market Paul Morrell, Government Chief Construction Adviser , Government Chief Construction Adviser (CONFIRMED)
10:30	Towards a Low Carbon Economy: Building a Greener Future Saving carbon in homes and communities Guidance for the commissioning of new build projects The modernisation and greening of existing housing stock Embedding green design into new builds Water and energy efficiency Sarah Sturrock, Deputy Director, Sustainable Buildings Division, Communities and Local Government (CONFIRMED)
10:50	Sustainability in the Built Environment Working in partnership to transform the way the built environment is planned, designed, constructed, maintained and operated Finding solutions which are not only environmentally sustainable, but have positive social and economic effects Building sustainable communities Prof. Tim Dixon, Professor of Real Estate, Director of the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development, School of the Built Environment, Oxford Brookes University for Built Environment (CONFIRMED)
11:10	Questions and Answers Session
11:25	Coffee and Networking
11:45	Improving the Quality of the Built Environment Through Design Impact of design in improving the carbon capital investment in a building, and the energy, waste and water efficiency it will achieve during its life Design for future climate change: designing buildings that meet the targets Developing integrated, interoperable systems that enable the holistic design of buildings Dr Edward Hobson, Head of sustainable and inclusive design, CABE (CONFIRMED)
12:05	Delivering Innovation: Low Impacts Building Innovation Platform Identify the major challenges to delivering low impact buildings Development and integration of materials and components into building systems to achieve the government's targets for zero carbon and low water usage Energy efficient, low-cost buildings Delivering innovative solutions Dr. Fionnuala Costello, Lead Technologist, Low Impact Buildings, Technology Strategy Board (CONFIRMED)
12:25	Sustainable Energy Management and the Built Environment The retrofit imperative The need for a step change in household energy behaviour Delivering innovative solutions in technology, infrastructure and ICT Localising energy infrastructures: breaking the "lock-in" to the national gas and electricity infrastructures Lorna Walker, CABE Commissioner (CONFIRMED)
12:45	Questions and Answers Session
13:00	Lunch and Networking
14:00	Close

*programme subject to change without notice

Audience

Delegates will be drawn from local authorities, housing associations, construction industry, RSLs, social services, voluntary sector, energy and construction industry, trade unions, environmental groups, think tanks, businesses and employers, regional development agencies, local strategic partnerships, local, NGOs, housing organisations, academia and legal & voluntary including: directors of housing, directors of social services, heads of policy, head of family services, head of housing needs, supporting people teams, housing and community directors, prevention and option managers, housing strategy officers, housing supply officers, housing providers, architects, building/landscape designers, planners, and all those with an interest in the built environment and sustainability agenda.

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