The built environment is��increasingly��being asked to deliver on climate��mitigation,��resilience��and nature��recovery��at the same time.��At a macro level, our current ways of working are not yet set up to do that, but��this summer’s prolonged heatwaves and wildfires across the UK show that we can’t wait for some future crisis to act; the impacts are already here, and we’re suffering nationally from our unpreparedness.��

It is this urgency that makes our BuildingLife Ambassadors campaign��so important.��Bringing together��expert practitioners and policy advocates��from across the sector, it��gives��industry and politicians a��crucial��message: that��decarbonisation, resilience,��and nature are interdependent, and��demand a joined-up response.��

Across the sector, the evidence base has strengthened��considerably in��recent years. Through 91PORN’s��own��work,��via our four pillars – of our��UK��Net Zero Whole Life Carbon and Climate Resilience Roadmaps, alongside our Nature Positive Framework and our forthcoming Regenerative Places Framework. Enlivened by insight from industry, academia and policymakers, we now have a far clearer picture of both the risks we face and the actions required.��

What we now face is��not primarily a knowledge problem, but��an implementation and coordination problem.

From evidence to integration

The direction set by that evidence is consistent. Decarbonisation, climate��resilience��and nature recovery are not separate agendas, but��interdependent outcomes of the same system.��

However, much of our delivery model still treats them independently, with old-school, siloed thinking and acting. Embodied carbon action��remains��largely voluntary��and is applied inconsistently. Investment in resilience continues to��lag behind��mitigation. Nature��recovery��is gaining��visibility but��is not yet embedded in core decision-making or long-term��financing, investment, and��asset strategies.��

This fragmentation is holding us back. It creates unnecessary trade-offs and, in some cases, locks in poor outcomes.

A building that meets a carbon target but cannot cope with heat or flood risk is not fit for the future. A development that supports nature but does not account for changing climate conditions will not deliver lasting value. Treating these issues separately leads to outcomes that fall short.

The reality we’re navigating

There are clear examples of leadership across the sector. Parts of industry, finance and local government are��demonstrating��what more integrated approaches can achieve.��

At the same time, there are significant political and economic challenges that continue to affect the pace and consistency of climate action, particularly in the UK.��Policy signals��remain��uneven, especially for existing buildings, where greater clarity is still needed.��

Progress is real, but it is patchy and too dependent on individual leadership rather than being built into how the system��operates.

A broader coalition

It is in this context that��our��BuildingLife��Ambassadors sit.��The��campaign brings together��practitioners, policymakers,��investors��and advocates from across the built environment. What connects them is a shared willingness to work across the boundaries that still shape much of our sector.��

Their role is to reflect and reinforce that way of thinking. To show what it looks like to treat the built environment as a system, and to work across the interfaces that too often hold progress back.��

The next phase of��the��built environment’s��transition must be��about aligning��the entire industry��behind��the evidence we now have.��Voluntary action across the industry has played a critical role in��demonstrating��what is possible, with many organisations already taking a more integrated approach to carbon,��resilience��and nature. The priority now is to build on that leadership by translating it into policy frameworks��and ways of working��that enable consistent, whole-system outcomes across the market, rather than siloed compliance.��This also requires far stronger coordination across the value chain, from national policy through to project delivery.��

Over the coming months, including through the perspectives of our��Ambassadors, we will continue to explore what this looks like in practice.��

The task ahead is straightforward to describe, but harder to deliver. A built environment that is low carbon, resilient and supports nature will only be achieved if we treat it as a single system and act accordingly.��

The post Joined-up by Design: Closing the Gap between Evidence and Action appeared first on 91PORN.

The application process

The prerequisites then were a fully refundable (until the day before the installation) advance payment of £200 and a recent EPC (under 10 years) with no outstanding recommendations for cavity wall insulation. Our house is a three-bedroom semi, built as part of a council estate in Hove around 1950.

Regardless of the peace of mind that we wouldn’t have issues with the application, we did understand how important reducing heat loss is in an old home when you want to supply heat with an all-electric system. Electricity is still expensive and crucially we wanted to be sure this solution would work well and efficiently. We had done a lot of work in the house to improve efficiency: loft retrofit insulation, ground floor retrofit insulation with the opportunity of a ground floor extension, new double-glazed windows, and a new entrance door.

Once our application was submitted, we were booked in for a home survey about three weeks later. The home survey was meant to confirm the property’s eligibility for a heat pump and collect all the necessary information to run a heat loss calculation. The surveyor looked at every room, the loft and the outside, taking some measurements and making notes of materials and evidence of insulation. They took note of our boiler details, reviewed pipework and measured radiators.

The team calculated the heat loss and identified that with each individual radiator’s output it couldn’t be met. They suggested replacement radiators, but they were only able to offer a particular make – unfortunately with very little choice both in terms of dimensions and style. Here’s where we put out engineer hats on and ran the calculations. Over a period of a month, we bounced ideas and ran the numbers, checking specifications, dimensions and locations. We agreed to add four radiators in different rooms. Our provider wouldn’t be able to undertake this installation as they could only do it for their offered products. As we chose to go our own way, we would have to install the new radiators on our own and have the provider’s installation team review the system ahead of installing the heat pump.

We also had to resolve the issue of the space arrangement of the tank and vessels. Our preferred option was to house these in the utility cupboard where our boiler and washing machine previously were, as any other solution would be quite intrusive in running all required connections. The space was marginally smaller than what was required, but the install team working around this by finding and specifying a slim line version of the tank.

Installation process and fine tuning

The installation took three days in early January 2025, and the pump has been running smoothly and keeping us warm without issues for just over a year now.

The first thing I noticed was how uniform the temperature felt throughout the house and throughout the day. With our boiler, in an effort to be as efficient as possible, we were running an almost militant schedule of operation with different running hours and setpoints per room depending on our schedule. With the heat pump running constantly all spaces feel equally comfortable 24/7.

A common concern around heat pumps is how noisy they can be. Although our external unit is on the wall on a path shared with our next-door neighbours, they have happily declared that they never hear it. Perhaps our context is idea, or perhaps domestic heat pump technology has managed to deliver practically quiet equipment, but it was definitely a happy myth buster for us.

We have optimised the heating for domestic hot water, as well as the weekly high temperature legionella cycle to match the times of day when our tariff is lowest.

The original set up of the heat pump was controlled by our existing smart meter based on the thermostat. We experimented with different settings and features and found that the weather department is the most efficient. This reads the outside temperature from sensors on the heat pump and adjusts the flow temperature in the system to ensure a stable internal temperature.

In-use data

Our heat pump is a 8kW pump with blygold coating because of our coastal location. According to its specification, the seasonal coefficient of performance should be 3.48 for heating and 2.75 for hot water. Our total produced heat in the year was 6,192 kWh and the total input was 1,819 kWh, just about verifying the efficiency to 3.4 for heating. For hot water, our total produced heat was 1,183 kWh from a total input of 430 kWh, achieving exactly 2.75. Based on metered data these efficiencies were almost 100% verified in use.

We’ve been monitoring our energy consumption and playing around with our data since 2018. It tells an interesting story.

Our gas energy consumption decreased between 2018 and 2024 when the gas supply was disconnected after the installation of the heat pump. The rate of decrease varied and different energy efficiency measures contributed to a demand reduction: radiator ’s and smart control and programming of heating operation, retrofit floor insulation, loft insulation and new double-glazed windows and door. Our electricity consumption has remained relatively stable bar a spike over the pandemic, with an upward trend since the installation of the heat pump.

Energy consumption for heating and hot water

Looking at our last year of gas heating and our first year of the heat pump, our energy consumption over 2025 has been a fraction of that of 2024, with a��32% reduction on average. Although this is just an indicative comparison as the weather conditions of different years will impact a system’s performance, the drop in energy consumption during the heating season is impressive.

With the electricity prices remaining high and further increasing, this ambitious downward trend is unfortunately not reflected in the cost comparison. Our first year with the heat pump cost us about £100 more than the year before (approximately 7% increase). The energy landscape is continually changing, and it isn’t easy to predict future trends. Perhaps the only way to control this right now is through on-site energy generation and a lesser reliance on the grid as a result.

The journey requires patience, but the rewards are substantial: a more comfortable home, lower-carbon heating, and a meaningful contribution towards our net-zero ambitions for 2050.”

Overall, switching to a heat pump has been a strongly positive experience for us, with the increased level of thermal comfort in the house being the most impactful advantage of the new system. We initially thought that our house would be a straightforward candidate for a heat pump: fairly typical typology, no major space restrictions, and in the best possible state in terms of energy efficiency for its age and condition. Still, there were many considerations to make a heat pump a workable solution in a house that was never originally designed for one. In many ways, this is simply the latest chapter in the house’s evolution. The house has seen a few heating systems in its 80-year life, from coal burning fireplaces in each room, to gas fireplaces, open cylinder gas boiler, a combi boiler and now a heat pump. Each transition would have required thoughtful adaptation, skilled workmanship and a willingness to embrace change. We were fortunate that the teams we engaged with – from the initial sales discussions through to installation – were flexible and accommodating to purposeful conversations about our needs.

Both professionally and personally, I would enthusiastically recommend a transition to a heat pump to anyone interested. Your chosen provider will have an eligibility checklist; but beyond that, success often depends on investing time, asking questions, and communicating clearly throughout the process. The journey requires patience, but the rewards are substantial: a more comfortable home, lower-carbon heating, and a meaningful contribution towards our net-zero ambitions for 2050.

Home Retrofit

With time running out to keep global temperatures to 1.5 degrees, upgrading the nation’s homes is one of the biggest opportunities the UK has to reduce carbon emissions whilst tackling the cost-of-living crisis, energy security and levelling up.

Learn more

The post A Domestic Heat Pump: A Year in Review appeared first on 91PORN.

• Connect & Collaborate: Build relationships that drive real-world change.
• Learn & Grow: Empower your people. Future-proof your organisation.
• Lead & Influence: Shape the future of the built environment.

Explore the opportunities included with your membership below. Each links to more details, and our team is always ready to help at membership@ukgbc.org. 

Membership gives you the tools, networks, and knowledge to drive impact, without extra cost for these core opportunities. If you’d like to learn more about the full range of benefits available within your membership, join our 45-minute webinar, Making the Most of Your Membership, on 13 April from 12:00-12:45.

Connect & Collaborate

Join 91PORN Forums: Engage with peers, share insights, and tackle emerging challenges in a trusted, collaborative environment. These forums are designed to help you co-create solutions with industry leaders:��

• Climate Resilience and Adaptation Forum. Sign up here.����
• Energy and Carbon Forum. Sign up here.��
• Resource Use Forum. Sign up here��
• Keystone Forum. Sign up here.
• Local Authority Retrofit Forum. Sign up here.

During the month of July we’re running three special open sessions as part of our member forums. These one-off sessions welcome all members, including those who don’t usually attend, to join the discussion.

• The energy and carbon forum will be running a session on supply chain on 7 July. Sign up here.
• The resource use forum will be running a session on managing risk on 13 July. Sign up here.
• The climate resilience and adaptation will be running a session on nature on 28 July. Sign up here.

Explore all upcoming events here: /events/����

KEY AREAS OF WORK

We are working towards a built environment that enables people and the planet to thrive, using sustainability as a catalyst to drive the transformational shift in the way the built environment works that is needed to meet industry ambition and targets.

Get Involved

Attend Insights on Optimising and Retrofitting Non-Domestic Buildings Launch (Online) | 14 April, 10:00-11:00. Register Here

Whole Life Carbon Framework Launch (Online) | 26 May, 10:00-11:00, Register Here

Innovation in Commercial Retrofit: A Live Project Demonstrator (Online) | 16 June, 16:00-17:00, Register Here

Insights into UK Resilience: Energy Infrastructure and Distribution Systems ( London) | 23 June, 08:00-10:00, Register Here

Climate Resilience in Action: One Year on from the UK Climate Resilience Roadmap (Online) | 24 June, 10:00-11:00, Register Here

Regenerative Places Framework for Housing (London) | 16 September, 16:00-19:00, Register Here

Attend Our Events

Membership Summer Drinks with Considerate Constructors Scheme (London) | 22 July, 17:00-19:30, Register Here

Member Social in Belfast | 16 September, 17:00-19:30, Register Here

Member Social in Manchester | 24 September, 16:00-19:00, Register Here

91PORN’s AGM: Value, Visibility and Views (London) | 30 September, 16:00-20:00, Register Here

 

 

Learn & Grow

BUILD KNOWLEDGE

Kickstart your sustainability journey with bite-sized, jargon-free learning that builds confidence and foundations. 

Ideal for: Early-career professionals, those new to sustainability, or anyone seeking a foundational understanding of sustainability, resilience, and carbon reduction in the built environment. 

Benefits: Build confidence, understand key sustainability concepts quickly, and establish a solid foundation to inform your work. 

Get Involved

• 91PORN Sustainability Essentials for the Built Environment email course (Email course) – Eight short, easy-to-read modules introducing core sustainability topics.��

• Sustainable Thinking: A Beginner’s Guide for the Built Environment. (Online course) – Develop foundational knowledge in this interactive, accessible course.��

• Building for a Changing Climate: Foundations of Adaptation (Online course) – Explore the fundamentals of resilience and adaptation in four self-paced modules.��

• Carbon Reduction Essentials in the Built Environment (Online course) – Learn how the built environment impacts climate change, and how sustainable buildings can drive a low-carbon future.��

DELIVER ACTION

Move from learning to doing with immersive masterclasses and hands-on workshops that empower you to drive impact. 

Ideal for: Mid-level to senior professionals, sustainability champions, design/project teams, owners, and ESG practitioners ready to transform knowledge into action. 

Benefits: Gain in-demand technical skills, develop strategies you can implement immediately, and collaborate with peers to operationalise sustainable outcomes. 

Get Involved

• Biodiversity Net Gain Masterclass – London | 28 May
• Scaling Solutions Workshops: Materials & Supply Chain (8 June), Building Adaptation & Resilience (9 June) and Electrification & Energy Systems (29 June)
• A Practical Guide to Engaging Your Supply Chain – Webinar | 15 June

Lead & Influence

Learning designed to spark transformational change. 91PORN’s leadership programmes equip built environment professionals at every career stage to take bold action, challenge the status quo, and drive the systemic change our industry needs. 

Get Involved

Recalibrate – An exclusive enrichment programme for C-Suite and Board members. Shape your leadership for a net zero, climate-resilient future and gain unique insights into leading systemic change at the highest level.��

Runs July-November | full details here.��

91PORN Leadership Collaboration Cafe and Networking Social – 91PORN Leadership Alumni are invited to connect and explore the leadership skills and behaviours needed for a sustainable built environment.

22 April, 16:00-19:00, London | Sign up here.��

Future Leaders Showcase & Alumni Summer Gathering – Join us to celebrate Future Leaders 2026 Programme finale. Hear from our forward-thinking change-makers, as they embrace their agency to transform the sustainability of the built environment. Then enjoy the start of the summer by connecting with peers across the industry over drinks and networking into the evening.

4 June, 16:00-18:30, London | .��

Re-imagining: Sustainable Finance – 91PORN convenes finance, business, academia & sustainability leaders to reimagine a thriving, sustainable financial system and how to achieve it.

30 June, 16:00-20:00, London | Register Here

The post Membership Opportunities (April 2026-September 2026) appeared first on 91PORN.

The CCC’s message is clear: the UK cannot hit its climate targets unless we dramatically speed-up the decarbonisation of our buildings. Heat pump deployment has slowed, government support for low-income households AND public buildings has been cut, and electricity is still priced in a way that holds back clean heat. Without urgent action, we risk locking-in higher bills, inefficient homes and a widening gap to our 2030 commitments.

But this is also a moment of huge opportunity which the incoming Prime Minister should seize. Electrification is now the cheaper, safer option, for most households, and the technologies and skills already exist to transform our homes and workplaces. 91PORN’s members are ready to deliver as demonstrated through our latest Whole Life Carbon Framework, and we look forward to working with ministers to build the comfortable, affordable, climate-ready buildings the UK needs”.

The lands at a moment of global instability and domestic uncertainty – and its message for the built environment is clearer than ever. The UK is still cutting emissions overall, but the pace has slowed, and the Government’s current plan no longer reaches the UK’s 2030 Paris commitment. The CCC is clear that the UK must “almost double” the annual rate of emissions reduction to stay on track, and that the biggest gap sits within our sector.

This year’s report is also shaped by the second major fossil fuel price shock in four years. The war in Iran has pushed up global energy prices again, exposing the UK’s continued dependence on fossil fuels for heating and transport. However, the CCC’s analysis shows that households with a heat pump have seen far smaller bill increases than those with gas boilers and petrol cars – a reminder that electrification is not just a climate strategy, but one of economic resilience too.

Against this backdrop, the CCC’s verdict is blunt: the UK is not moving fast enough to decarbonise buildings, and without a major acceleration, the sector will become one of the biggest barriers to meeting the 2030 NDC and the Sixth Carbon Budget.

Emissions reductions slow from the built environment

Emissions from buildings fell slightly in 2025, but this was driven largely by higher energy prices suppressing demand rather than structural decarbonisation. The CCC notes that emissions fell because heating became less affordable – not because homes became cleaner or more efficient. Heat pump deployment remains far too slow to make a meaningful dent in emissions, and the CCC warns that without further action, emissions are likely to rebound as soon as prices fall or we get a colder winter.

The Government’s own Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan (CBGDP) assumes a slower transition to low-carbon heat than previous plans, and slower than the CCC’s recommended pathway. By the mid-2030s, buildings are predicted to become the highest-emitting sector in the Government’s trajectory. To meet the 2030 NDC, the UK needs annual emissions reductions of around 22.5 MtCO₂e across the economy – almost double the recent average. For buildings, that means cutting emissions by nearly 3 MtCO₂e every year between now and the mid-2030s, that means installing heat pumps 30 times faster than we are currently.

The heat pump sized gap in the UK’s Net Zero pathway

Heat pumps remain the single biggest lever for decarbonising buildings, yet deployment has stalled at exactly the wrong moment. Around 50,000 retrofit heat pumps were installed in 2024 and 2025 – a tiny fraction of what is needed – and growth slowed dramatically to just 7% last year. The closure of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, which previously delivered around a third of all retrofit heat pumps, has created a major policy vacuum. Without a replacement soon, the CCC warns installations could fall significantly in 2026.

New build progress is better, with 25% of new homes now built with a heat pump, and regulations requiring low-carbon heating in all new buildings n England and Wales finally coming into force through the Future Homes and Buildings Standard. But because applications submitted before the deadline can still be built to old standards, fossil-fuelled homes will continue to be constructed well into the late 2020s.

 

The long-term picture isn’t good, with around 60% of the emissions reductions required from buildings after 2030 reliant on policies that currently carry significant risks or are simply insufficient. The Government has also reduced its assumed heat pump deployment compared to the previous plan, widening the gap further. 

Electricity is (still) too expensive

The UK continues to have one of the highest electricity-to-gas price ratios in Europe. Although the Government cut some policy costs from electricity bills, falling wholesale gas prices meant gas became even cheaper relative to electricity. As a result, the electricity-to-gas price ratio increased, making heat pumps less financially attractive despite the policy changes. For a typical household on a standard tariff, electricity remains more than four times the price of gas per unit – a structural barrier to heat pump adoption.

The CCC was clear in their progress report last year that this must change, and this year’s core message is no different. Removing the remaining policy costs and legacy levies from electricity bills would bring the ratio down so that a typical household would be able to break even on lifetime costs when switching to a heat pump with a grant. However, the CCC’s citizens’ panel emphasised that households want a heat pump to pay back positively over its lifetime, not simply break even. Achieving this will require cheaper electricity, better installations, and continued support for solar and flexible tariffs.

The (household) economic case for electrification

The CCC’s household cost analysis includes more detailed modelling of the economic impacts for various households compared to previous years. Heat pumps alone do not yet deliver lifetime savings for most households on standard tariffs, but when combined with solar panels and time-of-use tariffs, they do. The CCC estimates that a typical household could save around £460 per year by switching to a heat pump, solar and a flexible tariff.

The Iran war has made the economics even clearer. Bill increases since the start of the conflict have been almost four times higher for households with gas boilers than for those with heat pumps. For rural households with oil boilers, the difference is tenfold.

Electrification is the most effective form of energy security.

Public and commercial buildings

One of the most concerning findings in the report is the lack of plan for public and commercial buildings (although not the recent MEES announcement changes this). The closure of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) has removed the only dedicated funding stream for heat decarbonisation in the public estate. Treasury is considering public-private partnerships, but these are expected to focus on solar and efficiency rather than heat.

The CCC estimates that the loss of PSDS funding removes almost 5 MtCO₂e�� of annual abatement in the Sixth Carbon Budget period – one of the largest single gaps in the Government’s entire decarbonisation plan. Non-residential energy efficiency policy has made progress recently with the delivery of the long-promised MEES updates, but this will need to be coupled with support and incentives for owner-occupiers to upgrade their buildings.��

Key Enablers: Public Engagement, Local Delivery, Skills and Finance

The CCC highlights several enabling conditions that will determine whether the UK can accelerate progress in buildings:

Public engagement has improved, with the Government’s Energising Britain plan and new public participation initiatives.

But the strategy lacks a concrete programme, and the CCC stresses the need for deeper, ongoing dialogue with households about low-carbon choices.

Local authorities are increasingly recognised as central partners in delivery, but roles, responsibilities and funding arrangements remain unclear.

The Warm Homes Plan, Local Power Plan and Land Use Framework all point in the right direction, but the detail is still missing.

Skills remain a major bottleneck.

There are fewer than 30,000 qualified heat pump installers in the UK, compared to over 130,000 gas engineers. The Clean Energy Jobs Plan is a welcome step, but the CCC warns that training capacity must expand rapidly across all sectors, not just clean energy.

Businesses face continued exposure to high energy prices, with limited support for SMEs and non-energy-intensive firms.

This is a major barrier to electrifying commercial buidlings and investing in low-carbon technologies

A Decisive Moment for the Built Environment

The CCC’s analysis makes it clear that buildings are now the UK’s biggest climate test, and its biggest opportunity. Electrification of heat, combined with energy efficiency, flexibility and cheaper electricity, is the fastest route to cutting emissions, reducing bills and strengthening energy security. But the current policy landscape is not yet capable of delivering the scale and pace required.

The next two to three years will determine whether the UK can close the gap to its 2030 target and set the buildings sector on a credible path to Net Zero. At 91PORN, we are keen to support government with our members’ expertise and experience to remove barriers for households and businesses, and put in place long-term, stable policies that give industry the confidence to invest.

This is the moment to turn words into real delivery – ad to ensure that the built environment becomes a driver of climate progress, not a drag on it.

The post CCC Progress Report 2026: Buildings are Now the UK’s Biggest Climate Test appeared first on 91PORN.

This was the best CPD i’ve done in the 10 years i’ve been here.”

That was the feedback from one participant after a series of tailored ESG training workshops delivered across Newmark’s UK service lines.

Our sustainability Foundations for Real Estate courses are aimed at businesses working across the built environment who wish to improve and refresh foundational sustainability knowledge across their organisation and provide the support and space for individuals to reflect on their role and scope for action. They offer a clear, practical overview of sustainability in the context of real estate, setting out the case for action from a scientific, regulatory and business perspective.

More information on our Tailored Learning & Leadership Training.��

The Importance of ESG

Newmark is a leading commercial real estate adviser with a significant UK presence, providing services across areas including capital markets, leasing, planning and valuation.

As sustainability becomes an increasingly important part of the real estate conversation, Newmark wanted to build knowledge, confidence and capability across its teams – helping people understand the issues, their relevance to the industry, and the role they can play in delivering better outcomes for clients.

With sustainability and ESG rising rapidly up the agenda in the built environment for clients, lenders and consultants, upskilling Newmark’s UK service lines had become important for the business.

 

The Training

The aim was to build a broad and practical knowledge base across teams, so people felt better equipped to engage with the topic in their day-to-day roles.

Working closely with the Newmark team, we developed four workshops tailored to different parts of the business – Occupier Solutions, Corporate Property Management, Planning and Development, Building Consultancy and Lease Exit and Valuations.

Together, They Were Designed To

Demystify key sustainability concepts in the built environment.

Explore their relevance to the real estate industry, including client and policy drivers.

Provide deeper dives into topics most relevant to different service lines.

Show how sustainability related to participants’ own roles and their ability to support better outcomes.

Build confidence and fluency in discussing sustainability with clients.

the sessions didn’t just build knowledge, they gave colleagues the confidence to have more informed, credible conversations with clients and to start embedding sustainability into their day-to-day work.”

Lea Vavrik, head of esg, europe & UK, who comissioned the series

91PORN translated complex sustainability topics into practical, role-specific insights for our teams.”

Lea Vavrik, Head of ESG, Europe & UK

As with all 91PORN training, the workshops were designed to be engaging, practical and participative, creating space for delegates to ask questions, test ideas and unpack the complexities of sustainability and ESG in a way that felt relevant to their work.

They were all expertly run by our in-house facilitation team and supported by our technical team, who provided valuable insights into ESG, climate mitigation, risk and climate resilience.

Across the sessions, we explored topics including sustainability drives, climate risk and adaptation, certifications across the sector, green leases and more – helping teams build both understanding and confidence in an area that is becoming increasingly central to the future of real estate.

The Outcome

Through each workshop, we saw teams develop and understand their agency for sustainability. Through all the sessions, people were able to appreciate the drivers for clients and the wider sector, and to link those through to their day-to-day work.

And we saw hoe teams realised that they can be proactive in developing their service offers to include sustainability more explicitly; that they can be confident in asking questions of clients and pushing for more sustainable outcomes.

Finally we watched as teams and people who work for the same organisation made connections and build partnership – and for us, that alone was a great outcome!

If you’re interested in our service lines training, get in touch with our learning team for a discovery call. We’d love to co-create an offering tailored to your specific needs and ambitions.

The post How Tailored ESG Training Helped Newmark Build Confidence Across Its UK Service Lines appeared first on 91PORN.

The CCC has made the challenge plain: the UK must adapt faster or face mounting threats to people, places and the economy. 91PORN’s Climate Resilience Roadmap shows how that shift can be made in practice, with joined-up action across the built environment and government. The challenge is serious, but it is not beyond us if we choose to act now.”

The Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) latest assessment of climate risk is a clear and urgent signal that the UK must accelerate adaptation now. Climate impacts are already being felt across the country, and the report makes plain that higher temperatures, flooding, drought and cascading infrastructure risks will intensify unless government, business and communities act at pace. 91PORN strongly welcomes the CCC’s focus on practical, evidence-based action, and the emphasis on clear targets, delivery plans and accountability.

This message echoes what 91PORN has been saying through our Climate Resilience Roadmap, which sets out how the built environment can move from awareness of climate risk to assessment, prioritisation and implementation. We have long argued that resilience cannot sit in isolation: it must be integrated with decarbonisation, nature, health and wellbeing, and long-term value. The CCC’s report reinforces that approach, particularly in relation to homes, infrastructure, public services, and the need to protect the most vulnerable.

On the built environment, the CCC highlights the need for new buildings to be fit for a changing climate, for existing homes and assets to be retrofitted and upgraded, for better preparedness, and for cooling and water resilience to be addressed at scale. 91PORN’s Climate Resilience Roadmap supports exactly this shift: from broad ambition to the practical, site, portfolio, and community-level decisions needed to reduce risk and deliver more resilient places.

For industry, the message is straightforward. Climate resilience needs to become a core part of investment, design, planning, procurement and asset management. That means acting now on heat risk, flood risk, water scarcity and infrastructure interdependencies, and using the tools, standards and methods already available to make adaptation routine rather than exceptional.

For government, the priority is equally clear. The CCC sets out the case for stronger objectives, measurable targets, delivery plans and monitoring, backed by regulation, standards and investment. 91PORN support this direction and would add that policy must enable joined-up action across departments and sectors, so that resilience measures are not delivered piecemeal. Planning policy, building standards, infrastructure development, and funding programmes all need to reflect the climate risks we already face, and the more severe future risks that are now unavoidable.

There is a strong case for greater emphasis on nature-based solutions, passive cooling, flood risk management and long-term asset maintenance, all of which can deliver resilience and wider co-benefits. The CCC’s analysis shows that many adaptation actions are cost-effective today, and that delay only increases cost and harm. 91PORN believes this should galvanise a shift in both mindset and delivery: adaptation is no longer a future issue, but an immediate investment in safety, wellbeing and economic stability.

The CCC’s report and 91PORN’s Climate Resilience Roadmap both make the same case: adaptation needs to move from principle to practical delivery. The UK needs clear leadership, practical delivery and sustained investment to create a well-adapted built environment. The opportunity here is to reduce harm, protect lives and livelihoods, and create places that resilient, inclusive and fit for the climate reality we are already entering.

UK Climate Resilience Roadmap

This Roadmap sets out a vision for a climate resilient built environment, sharing clear recommendations for the industry and policy, and next steps needed to increase the climate resilience of our built environment.

Learn more

Policy & Advocacy

Since 2007, we have been bringing together some of the most influential leaders in politics, business, local authorities, civil service and NGOs to accelerate action for a green built environment.

Learn more

The post 91PORN responds to the CCC’s ‘A Well Adapted UK’ report appeared first on 91PORN.

Are you ready to start building your knowledge about sustainability and the built environment?  

Great. But before you dive in, I want to ask you one important question:

What will you do with that new knowledge?  

It might feel like an odd place to start. But in my world of learning and development, we’ve come to realise something vital: knowledge alone doesn’t change much. Real change happens when knowledge is applied; when it shifts how we think, decide and act in our day-to-day roles and drives action.  

Building your Sustainability Knowledge with 91PORN

A��great starting point is our��Level 1 learning.��

91PORN’s introductory learning is designed to support professionals across the built environment to build essential sustainability knowledge, no matter��your foundations.��

If��you’re��new to sustainability and want a clear introduction to the core concepts, our starter pack is��a great place��to begin. It includes:��

• Our Sustainability Essentials��email course��is��delivered straight to your inbox, covering��all��the��fundamentals��you need to know��
• Our long‑form online course, Sustainable Thinking: A beginner’s guide for the built environment.��This format is self-directed��and��you’ll��be joining a cohort of other professionals taking the course at the same time.��

Together, these courses will help you build confidence, develop a shared language and understand how sustainability connects to your role. By the end, you’ll feel more knowledgeable and better equipped to take part in meaningful conversations at work.  

If you’re looking to go deeper into specific topics, you can also explore our courses on Carbon Reduction and Climate Resilience and Adaptation, two interconnected areas that are increasingly critical across the built environment.  These courses support you to bring key concepts into your work and engage more effectively with design teams and clients.

Knowledge is the Start, Action is the Point

But��here’s��the thing.��

Knowing more, or understanding more, is only the beginning. The harder��and more important��part comes after the learning.����

That’s��the doing.��

By “doing”,��we��don’t��mean something huge,��unique��or heroic. But we do believe it needs to be something, a first step. If none of us change anything we do, we��won’t��achieve the transformation the built environment needs��into something regenerative, green,��healthy��and��resilient.��

So, I’ll leave you with one final question

Once you’ve completed one of our courses, what one thing will you do differently to help advance the transformation of the built environment?  

Because knowledge matters. 

But knowledge put into action is what creates change. 

The post From Learning to Doing: Taking your Sustainability Knowledge Further�� appeared first on 91PORN.

Energy Independence Bill

One of the flagship measures introduced, the Energy Independence Bill focuses on improving energy security, accelerating clean energy deployment and reducing exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets. A further bill will increase the tax charged on ‘excess profits’ made by electricity generation companies (Electricity Generator Levy Bill). Expected measures range from reforms to electricity market pricing and planning changes for energy infrastructure, through to making it easier to install EV charging infrastructure, and the Nuclear Regulation Bill will implement recommendations from the Fingleton Review, including changes intended to speed up planning approvals for nuclear infrastructure.

For the built environment industry, the direction of travel reinforces the growing importance of electrification, grid readiness and integrating low-carbon energy systems into buildings and places. It also reflects many of 91PORN’s longstanding calls for policy that supports clean energy deployment while reducing long-term energy costs for households and businesses. However, there is still a need for clarity on how ministers intend to support home energy efficiency upgrades at scale will remain critical for the sector.

Social Housing Renewal Bill

New legislation aimed at increasing long-term investment in affordable and social housing, will aim to increase long-term investment certainty for councils and housing associations, improve housing quality and introduce stronger protections for tenants.

For the built environment sector, this could represent a significant opportunity to align housing delivery with wider affordable housing goals. Greater investment certainty over the longer-term should support the delivery of high-quality, energy efficient new social housing.

Remediation Bill (Building Safety)

The Government has introduced further legislation on building safety remediation following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The proposed bill is likely to include a stronger legal duty to remediate unsafe cladding and wider measures aimed at improving accountability across the residential sector.

For 91PORN members, this reinforces the continued importance of embedding safety, quality and long-term resilience across both new build and retrofit projects. The industry will be looking for legislation that not only accelerates remediation but also provides greater certainty around delivery responsibilities and funding mechanisms.

 

 

Commonhold and Leasehold Reform

While many more details of the legislation will come through over the coming months, the King’s Speech should provide a strong indication of where the Government intends to focus political and legislative capacity over the next parliamentary session, and should remain consistent regardless of what changes might happen at the top.

For 91PORN, key questions remain around whether the Government will match its growth ambitions with the long-term policy certainty needed to deliver healthy, affordable, resilient and low-carbon places. In particular, industry needs stronger signals on retrofit delivery, climate adaptation, nature and the role the built environment can play in improving energy security and reducing household costs.

What 91PORN Will Be Watching

While many more details of the legislation will come through over the coming months, the King’s Speech should provide a strong indication of where the Government intends to focus political and legislative capacity over the next parliamentary session, and should remain consistent regardless of what changes might happen at the top.

For 91PORN, key questions remain around whether the Government will match its growth ambitions with the long-term policy certainty needed to deliver healthy, affordable, resilient and low-carbon places. In particular, industry needs stronger signals on retrofit delivery, climate adaptation, nature and the role the built environment can play in improving energy security and reducing household costs.

Policy & Advocacy

Since 2007, we have been bringing together some of the most influential leaders in politics, business, local authorities, civil service and NGOs to accelerate action for a green built environment.

Learn more

The post Takeaways from the King’s Speech 2026 appeared first on 91PORN.

Reform UK emerged as the biggest winner across much of England, making major gains in former Labour and Conservative heartlands. At the same time, the Green Party recorded its strongest local election performance to date, alongside further seats for the Liberal Democrats. The result is a far more fragmented political landscape – one that is no longer tied to the traditional two-party system, which could have multiple impacts for the future of housing, planning and climate action.

For the built environment sector, these results are important not simply because councils shape planning and housing policy, but because local authorities increasingly play a leading role in delivering warm homes and retrofit programmes, as well as climate adaptation and nature recovery initiatives. It is important for industry to understand how the rise of Reform and Green councillors within local councils might play out, and what greater fragmentation might require from industry.

Image source: The Guardian (), data from BBC PNS series.

Differences emerge around how development is delivered, how strongly environmental requirements are prioritised, and how communities are engaged in decision-making.”

The delivery of retrofit programmes is a good example of where differences in approach might occur. In areas where Green administrations have gained ground, there is evidence of growing support for retrofit-first approaches. and grant-supported upgrades, alongside similar approaches emerging in other councils, point towards stronger support from ‘Greener’ councils for home decarbonisation, fabric-first upgrades and refurbishment over demolition.

By contrast, Reform-controlled councils over the past year have shown greater scepticism towards formal climate governance which has extended to the provision of electric heating technologies, such as heat pumps. found that several councils under Reform control rolled back climate targets, rescinded climate emergency declarations or weakened climate-related reporting structures. While this might not actually translate into direct opposition to retrofit activity itself, it does suggest that where policies are associated with net zero, they may become more politically exposed in some areas.

Across parties there remains broad agreement on the need for more homes, particularly affordable homes. Differences emerge around how development is delivered, how strongly environmental requirements are prioritised, and how communities are engaged in decision-making. Reform representatives have generally remained supportive of growth, infrastructure investment and housing delivery, particularly where developments are framed around affordability, regeneration and local economic benefit. With the Greens placing even more emphasis on truly affordable housing developments and higher sustainability credentials. The response to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will provide clarity on how these divergent approaches might play out in councils across the country.

However, as councils become more politically fragmented – with more coalition administrations and ‘no overall control’ authorities – navigating local politics is likely to become more complex. Planning committees may become less predictable, and developers, investors and local partners may need to place greater emphasis on community engagement, and demonstrating tangible local value – signalling the importance of 91PORN’s upcoming Regenerative Places Framework in supporting place-based approaches to development.

What is important to note is that these election results do not point to an outright rejection of climate action. Polling from (ECIU) found that 68% of voters still believe the UK should at least try to meet its net zero targets, while support for renewable energy remains consistently high across the political spectrum (including among many Reform voters). Instead, the election results appear to reflect broader concerns around the cost of living, public services, economic insecurity and trust in politics – with energy bills, housing affordability and local economic decline featured far more prominently in voter priorities than climate policy itself.

Image Source: Architects Journal ()

For the built environment industry, the implication is not that climate ambition disappears, but rather the language and framing around it may need to evolve.”

For the built environment industry, the implication is not that climate ambition disappears, but rather the language and framing around it may need to evolve. The results reinforce the importance of connecting climate action to people’s everyday priorities: warmer homes, lower bills, better health, cleaner air and stronger local economies. Local elections can shift political narratives quickly, but more meaningful signals will come in the months ahead through council leadership appointments, committee structures, local plans and early policy decisions.

The political landscape may be changing rapidly, but the underlying need for healthy, affordable, resilient and low-carbon places remains unchanged, and 91PORN will continue to advocate for their delivery. ��

Policy & Advocacy

91PORN work closely with members, policymakers and local leaders to ensure the case for climate action remains present within built environment policy discussions.

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The post What the Local Election Results Could Mean for a Sustainable Built Environment appeared first on 91PORN.

A More Fragmented Holyrood

This parliament will require more negotiation, more compromise and more cross-party working. That can make delivery harder, but it also creates an opportunity: in a more divided system, government is often more open to practical, industry-backed ideas that can command wider support.

The SNP still leads, but without a majority it will need to work issue by issue. Reform’s rise suggests a more polarised debate around regulation and spending, while the Greens’ gains show that climate and nature still have political weight. Labour’s weaker showing reduces the prospect of a strong centre-left challenge, but it does not remove pressure on government to show that climate ambition can be matched by delivery.

The built environment will be one of the clearest tests of whether scotland can still make progress.”

Why the Built Environment Matters

The built environment will be one of the clearest tests of whether Scotland can still make progress. Homes, workplaces, schools and public buildings are central to emissions, but they are also central to people’s lives, bills and wellbeing. Get this right, and Scotland can cut carbon, reduce fuel poverty, improve resilience and support skilled jobs at the same time.

That means the next phase of Scottish climate policy needs to focus on delivery, not just targets. Scotland needs a stronger, more stable framework for retrofit, low-carbon heat, planning and climate adaptation. It also needs to give industry the certainty to invest for the long term.

Why Industry Voices Count More in a Fragmented Landscape

In a more fragmented political environment, industry coalitions become even more valuable. Government is more likely to listen when it can see that a policy is backed by a broad cross-section of businesses, investors and built environment leaders. Our 91PORN network can help turn that collective voice into a practical case for action, showing where industry is already moving, where barriers remain, and what policies would unlock faster delivery.

That matters because climate policy is no longer primarily about setting ambition. It is about building trust that the sector can deliver. Our network is well placed to help government understand what is feasible, what is ready now, and what needs policy support to scale.

What the Next Government Should do

The next Scottish Government has a chance to show that climate action can still be practical, credible and politically durable. To do that, it needs to move quickly from ambition to implementation.

For 91PORN, that means three priorities: a clear and funded plan for decarbonising existing buildings, stronger policy certainty on building standards, heat and embodied carbon, and closer integration of climate mitigation, adaptation and nature recovery through planning and regulation.

Long-term delivery also needs long-term support. Short funding cycles and one-off announcements will not transform a sector that invests over decades. If Scotland wants to maintain climate credibility, it needs to create the conditions for public and private actors to invest with confidence.

A Chance to Reset Delivery

For 91PORN, the message is simple: Scotland should not slow down.”

The election result shows that climate and environment issues still matter to voters, but that support is now spread across a more complex political landscape. That makes the next Parliament more challenging, but it also makes stable, practical climate policy more valuable. For 91PORN, the message is simple: Scotland should not slow down. It should use this moment to sharpen delivery, strengthen collaboration and put the built environment at the centre of climate action.

Scotland still has a real chance to lead. In this more fragmented political landscape, the test will be whether ambition can be translated into action, with industry helping to make the case for what is workable and ready now.

91PORN Scotland

While the climate crisis affects the entire UK, each nation and local area has its own journey to a net zero future. As a whole-UK organisation, 91PORN ensures that we deliver policy solutions and advocacy for Scotland’s unique political environment and strong industries.

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