Transforming Housing and Homes for Future Generations
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bath
Department Name: Architecture and Civil Engineering
Abstract
The housing sector is responsible for around 20% of the country's total carbon emissions and with 80% of the homes that will be occupied in 2050 already built, retrofitting the country's existing housing stock to improve energy efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions, is critical to achieving the UK's net-zero targets. Retrofitting existing houses is an infrastructure priority for the UK Government; it is also a significant design challenge. Changes in housing fabric are essential to ensure that new low carbon heating and cooling solutions work effectively. Poorly executed retrofit measures can lead to unintended negative consequences, including increased problems with damp and mould, and reduced indoor air quality (affecting human health). Poor design can also cause damage to building fabric and cultural heritage. Current retrofitting approaches also rely heavily on synthetic and non-renewable materials, such as plastics and foam insulation, which can have negative environmental impacts. In some cases, the embodied carbon emissions of retrofitting measures can even exceed the carbon savings from reduced energy use.
Using bio-based and non-extractive materials in retrofitting offer promising alternatives, but currently occupy a small market share. Bio-based materials are derived from renewable resources, such as crops, mycelium, cork and wood, and have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact. Non-extractive materials are derived from a supply chain based on circular reuse and recycling of waste. Plant based materials, including timber, absorb atmospheric CO2 through photosynthesis, forming a 'biogenic carbon store'. As well as environmental benefits, bio-based products and systems offer energy efficient, healthy, and sustainable improvements to existing homes. However, despite their comparatively lower embodied carbon, the use of bio-based materials, compared to a number of other European countries, remains under-utilised in the UK.
Our project, the Transforming Housing and Homes for Future Generations Green Transition Ecosystem (GTE), will lead innovation through co-design, in a regional partnership between the GW4 universities (Bath, Cardiff, Bristol, and Exeter) and businesses, local authorities, and council-built estates and community groups. We will work with householders, community groups, local authorities, social landlords, the construction industry, and other key stakeholders, to co-create a green transformation. Centred on a process of design research, through transdisciplinary working, cross-sectoral and community participation, we will design, test, implement and monitor innovative prototype solutions to improve the quality of energy inefficient low-rise council-built housing. We will also seek to create a legacy of positive behaviour change, supporting job creation, local and regional supply chains, and strengthen local delivery capacities. We will create design proposals for Beyond Net Zero liveable homes through remodelling housing built by councils between 1920-1940, which account for approximately 1.1 million of the homes still in use in the UK today.
We will work with two communities in Bristol and Swansea to develop and demonstrate possible solutions. Our design led process will include co-design, digital modelling, prototyping, and testing of alternative options. Our solutions will create delight through improving spatial quality, well-being, affordability and ease of construction. Our design research will also promote the transition to living well through co-design methodologies enabling positive behaviour change including attitudes towards natural materials and sustainable living, fostering diversity, and supporting green transition goals. Through educational and wider community engagement, in partnership with our communities and the Future Observatory, we will also further retrofitting design skills.
Using bio-based and non-extractive materials in retrofitting offer promising alternatives, but currently occupy a small market share. Bio-based materials are derived from renewable resources, such as crops, mycelium, cork and wood, and have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact. Non-extractive materials are derived from a supply chain based on circular reuse and recycling of waste. Plant based materials, including timber, absorb atmospheric CO2 through photosynthesis, forming a 'biogenic carbon store'. As well as environmental benefits, bio-based products and systems offer energy efficient, healthy, and sustainable improvements to existing homes. However, despite their comparatively lower embodied carbon, the use of bio-based materials, compared to a number of other European countries, remains under-utilised in the UK.
Our project, the Transforming Housing and Homes for Future Generations Green Transition Ecosystem (GTE), will lead innovation through co-design, in a regional partnership between the GW4 universities (Bath, Cardiff, Bristol, and Exeter) and businesses, local authorities, and council-built estates and community groups. We will work with householders, community groups, local authorities, social landlords, the construction industry, and other key stakeholders, to co-create a green transformation. Centred on a process of design research, through transdisciplinary working, cross-sectoral and community participation, we will design, test, implement and monitor innovative prototype solutions to improve the quality of energy inefficient low-rise council-built housing. We will also seek to create a legacy of positive behaviour change, supporting job creation, local and regional supply chains, and strengthen local delivery capacities. We will create design proposals for Beyond Net Zero liveable homes through remodelling housing built by councils between 1920-1940, which account for approximately 1.1 million of the homes still in use in the UK today.
We will work with two communities in Bristol and Swansea to develop and demonstrate possible solutions. Our design led process will include co-design, digital modelling, prototyping, and testing of alternative options. Our solutions will create delight through improving spatial quality, well-being, affordability and ease of construction. Our design research will also promote the transition to living well through co-design methodologies enabling positive behaviour change including attitudes towards natural materials and sustainable living, fostering diversity, and supporting green transition goals. Through educational and wider community engagement, in partnership with our communities and the Future Observatory, we will also further retrofitting design skills.
Organisations
Related Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Award Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AH/Y003861/1 | 30/09/2023 | 30/03/2025 | £4,154,267 | ||
| AH/Y003861/2 | Transfer | AH/Y003861/1 | 30/03/2025 | 29/03/2027 | £0 |
| Title | 1: 50 model of the typical interwar mid and end terrace houses |
| Description | Designed by partners Dr. Rob Grover and Emma Taylor and constructed by Owen Rutter at the University of Bath, this model illustrates the complete house typology, including how the homes are positioned within the terrace and their relationship to surrounding space. The model features a removable roof, allowing for a detailed view of the internal spatial arrangement. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The model served as a valuable tool in early conversations with residents, helping to identify their house typology and any spatial changes made over the years. It also provided a useful reference for residents as they designed their own homes using the cardboard flat-pack model kits. |
| Title | 1:20 sectional model of a typical interwar mid terrace house |
| Description | The model provides a sectional view of a typical interwar mid-terrace home, illustrating both the existing construction and proposed transformations, including retrofit measures and spatial interventions. Designed by partners Rob Grover and Emma Taylor and constructed by Owen Rutter at the University of Bath, the model features a detailed cut-through of the proposed front porch and rear extension. It also allows for updates to the existing window designs to reflect the planned modifications. Made from MDF and chipboard with laser-cut details, it highlights all new interventions using natural materials. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The model has been showcased at various engagement events, including resident-focused activities during the Bristol Design Workshops and Retrofit Street initiatives, as well as presentations at the HAMMAR Meeting, where Transforming Homes partners engaged researchers, industry professionals, policymakers, and third-sector organisations. In resident engagement events, the model has been particularly effective in sparking conversations about homes and illustrating how proposed retrofit measures interact with existing construction. It has been especially useful in demonstrating where work takes place within the home, the level of disruption involved, and how the process unfolds. Additionally, it complements the retrofit cards by enhancing residents' understanding of the proposed interventions. |
| Title | Bio-homes |
| Description | A collection of interactive, hand-sized home-shaped models made from various bio-based materials built by Dr. Francis Moran at the University of Bath. These small-scale 'bio homes' resemble showcase different material options for home retrofits. Designed in various shapes and sizes, they offer a hands-on way to explore sustainable building materials. Currently on display at The Factory, Bristol, where our partners at WCM and University of Bath usually deliver community engagement activities for the delivery of the Bristol demonstration homes. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The bio homes have proven to be highly tactile and interactive objects, allowing residents to touch, feel, and explore the structure of diverse range of bio-based materials. They provide a physical sample of the materials our team is currently analysing to develop a catalogue of design solutions for home transformation in the UK. Continuously used in engagement activities, particularly with residents of the Bristol demo homes, and have been well received. |
| Title | Community Co-design Workshop Delivery Pack |
| Description | These workshop delivery packs were developed by Joel Cady, Laura Brain and Dr Lucy McFadzean. They include a collection of visual assets designed to complement other engagement materials, such as the Home Bingo and Flatpack models. The packs feature digital presentations, maps, posters, plans, and various documentation, including images and objects, all aimed at supporting the activities during the Co-Design Community Workshops held in Norwich, Newcastle, and Manchester. Developed based on the engagement packs developed for the Swansea and Bristol engagement activities, these delivery packs have been adapted with a consistent layout to suit the different co-design workshops across the UK. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | These delivery packs have proven valuable in helping participants contextualise the research within their own environments, while also fostering conversations and interactivity around key themes. These could also be an invaluable asset if the research project has the opportunity to develop into Phase 2. |
| Title | Design Research Report for Demonstration Homes |
| Description | This report developed by Prof Jo Patterson, DR Shan Shan Hou, Joel Cady and Laura Brain, with external support from Dr Juan Fernandez, consists of a detailed narrative and visual product to support and inform the development of the demonstration homes. It describes the outcomes of the collaborative discussions between Welsh School of Architecture and Swansea Council, Welsh School of Architecture Design Research, precedents and independent information provided by the supply chain. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | This artefact has proven useful in supporting the decision-making process of the real-life application of the Transforming Homes research, being the centre of ongoing discussions for the delivery of the Swansea demonstration homes. It will be shared with Swansea council to support and assist with the delivery of the demonstration homes. A subsequent version may be more widely shared with other stakeholders and/or published. |
| Title | Home Bingo |
| Description | The Home Bingo is an A3-sized, colour-printed graphic game designed to engage residents in identifying the architectural features of their homes. The game includes 10 categories of house features, such as the layout, roof form, and materiality. It is printed on durable card. This tool was developed by Laura Brain as part of the charrette workshops delivery to encourage active participation and foster meaningful discussions. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The Home Bingo has proven to be an effective tool in facilitating charrette workshops held across different regions of the UK between 2024 and 2025. Its interactive and accessible format allows residents to identify features of their homes without prior technical knowledge, facilitating meaningful conversations, fostering reflection on their living spaces and promoting active engagement in the co-design process. Its potential to further inform other project outputs is currently being evaluated. |
| Title | Interwar Homes Flatpack Models |
| Description | The laser-cut, corrugated card flatpack models, designed at a 1:50 scale, represent typical interwar houses. Developed by Laura Brain and Joel Cady, these low-cost, easy-to-transport, and customisable artefacts are used as a tool by our researchers to host community design workshops. They offer participants a tangible and interactive way to visualise and explain the layout of their homes to the researchers while helping them explore transformation concepts. By assembling and personalising the models, residents can more effectively articulate their ideas, facilitating clearer communication of their needs and preferences. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The models have been particularly effective in fostering creativity and stimulating conversations about housing design among workshop participants. These have had a significant impact on residents, with some expressing interest in taking unbuilt flatpack models home to further explore design ideas, to pass on to friends and relatives, or just as playful interactive devices. Other impacts are still being studied. |
| Title | Retrofit Street Cargo Bike |
| Description | The Retrofit Street bike is a cargo bike specially fitted out as an engagement tool for hosting on-street activities, including those related to the Bristol Demo Homes. Designed by our partners at WeCanMake, it is on display at The Factory, Bristol. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The cargo bike is an eye-catching tool that people gravitate towards, and it has enabled us to bring Transforming Homes research and engagement activities out into the public realm and be hosted on the demonstration street itself. We have used the bike to host posters and visual information, run mapping activities, operate a pop-up cafe, display a biomaterial library, and hold space as a general information stand. We are currently developing a home sensor kit specifically designed for the cargo bike, enabling us (or trained local residents) to carry out local scanning/sensing of homes in the neighbourhood. |
| Title | Retrofit Street past-present-future banners |
| Description | Taking inspiration from protest and colliery banners, our WeCanMake partners used the digital design tools in their community microfactory to create three banners for Andover Road - past, present and future - each acting as a collection point for materials, stories and ideas on that timeframe to unpack and explore what retrofit means to different people in a tactile and engaging way. Andover Road is the place where the Bristol demonstration homes of the Transforming Homes project are found. The banners are exhibited at various public events in the neighbourhood and serve as an invitation to share stories of the history of the street, and dreams for its future. Participants write stories, comments, observations etc on hanging tags pinned to the back of the relevant banner, which are available for others to browse and read during events. As the research work on the demonstration street progresses, snippets of these stories will be woven into the banners by artists working with local residents and using our digital embroidery kit in The Factory. Past: Swatches of historical wallpaper, clothing and surfaces; histories and memories of what took place there; quotes from archives and original vision for the site; data of usage. Present: Swatches of contemporary fabric, modern wallpaper and tech; current housing photos / plans; current anecdotes of life on the street; data of sensors. Future: Swatches of bio-materials, technology and surfaces yet to be used locally; ideas and hopes for the street's future; data projections. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | At various events throughout the past year, we have gathered over 40 contributions on the history and desired future of Andover Road: from tales about shared street events, the WWII bomb shell found lodged in the attic of a home on the street, and desires for imagined community events in the future. The banners serve as excellent tools to surface stories and hopes for the street, and act as an entry point to discuss how we might enhance and retrofit our homes, streets and neighbourhoods together through a collective approach. |
| Title | Retrofit cards |
| Description | A set of double sided, A6 cards, that explain all possible retrofit measures for the inter war house typology. The cards are used during co-design sessions with residents and explain where the intervention happens on the home, key considerations, and rates the measures against set criteria. Additional cards were added to the pack at later co-design sessions, to explain the insulation materials proposed and to provide a greater understanding regarding the work to the homes and level of disruption the residents will experience. This resource was developed by co-investigator Rob Grover and research associate Emma Taylor, and a number of ways in which the cards are used has been developed, to ensure the co-design sessions are as engaging as possible. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The cards provide a structured, step-by-step introduction to retrofit, enabling residents to gradually develop a clear understanding of the process. This approach fosters engagement and encourages questions, ensuring that residents feel well-informed and empowered to make decisions about the extent of retrofit they wish to implement in their homes. The cards have facilitated open, dynamic discussions, creating a comfortable environment where residents feel confident in seeking clarification and exploring their options. |
| Title | Swansea Demo Home 1:20 Model |
| Description | A 1:20 architectural model of a typical pair of semi-detached 1920s low-rise, council-built homes, constructed from plywood. It represents one of the four demonstration homes to be transformed as part of Work Package 4. This detachable model, measuring 80 × 60 × 42 cm, provides a bird's-eye view of the home's layout, enhancing the understanding of its spatial organisation and key architectural features. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The model and its images have been of support in explaining the homes and exploring transformation ideas with a diverse group of stakeholders. It has been regularly used in meetings with our partners at Swansea Council, key stakeholders in delivering the Swansea Demonstration Homes, to discuss technical aspects of the proposed transformations. Additionally, the model has been used in workshops with residents whose homes will be transformed, helping them better understand their space, spark discussions, and propose changes. It has also been showcased at local events, including those held at the Welsh School of Architecture, where Transforming Homes colleagues have engaged with wider audiences. More broadly, it has facilitated discussions in meetings with other consortium members, supporting design development. |
| Title | Swansea Demo Homes 1:100 models |
| Description | Two 1:100 architectural models of 1920s low-rise, council-built homes, constructed from plywood. It represents one of the four demonstration homes to be transformed as part of Work Package 4. The model includes the garden area. These detachable models, measuring 42 x 32 x 20 cm, provides a bird's-eye view of the home's layout, enhancing the understanding of its spatial organisation and key architectural features. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The model and its images have been of support in explaining the homes and exploring transformation ideas both in meetings with our partners at Swansea Council, key stakeholders in delivering the Swansea Demonstration Homes, and in workshops with residents whose homes will be transformed, helping them better understand their space, spark discussions, and propose changes. These have also been the inspiration for the development of the flatpack models that are being used as part of the Community Co-design Workshops across the UK. |
| Title | Transforming Homes Banner |
| Description | A 800x2000 mm pull-up banner designed by Dr Veronica Albarran Carrillo and Prof Jo Patterson showcasing the general aim of Transforming Homes along with its three core activities: Design research, Demonstration Homes and Engagement |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The Banner was showcased in 2024 in the Labour Party Annual Conference in Liverpool, and it was also recently displayed in the Healthy Homes Conference and Expo 2025 in London. It is expected that the banner will be further used in a series of upcoming dissemination activities planned by the consortium to showcase the Transforming Homes research. |
| URL | https://www.transforminghomes.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Transforming-Homes-Banner-FV.pdf |
| Title | Transforming Homes Cart (Charrette Cart) |
| Description | A 60 x 120 x 120 cm plywood cart designed by Laura Brain and Joel Cady and built in the workshop at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University. Inspired by the concept of a cabinet of curiosities, this was created to facilitate pop-up community design workshops across the UK (also known as design charrettes). The cart features a range of compartments designed to transport various artefacts, including flatpack models and tools essential for workshops. It is designed to later serve as a touring exhibition display, with built-in panels for posters and other materials, as well as drawers and surfaces for showcasing artefacts. Additionally, the cart provides storage for items created by participants during the charrettes, ensuring a flexible and adaptable platform for creative engagement, collaboration, and interactive presentations. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | The cart was first utilised in January 2025 to facilitate pop-up community design workshops in Newcastle and Manchester, with 12 participants in each session. It is also planned for use in the further design charrettes as part of the same initiative. The cart has proven to be a valuable tool in supporting these community workshops by stimulating creativity, encouraging active participation, and sparking meaningful conversations. Its adaptability and functionality have enhanced the overall workshop experience. Further evaluation is ongoing to explore additional impacts and innovative ways to maximise the value of this artefact in dissemination activities. |
| Title | Warmer Home Tips (Tiktok) |
| Description | Short 'reel' for social media with tips on 'how to keep your home warm in winter', starring Jas Tippett (Andover Road neighbour and Transforming Homes participant). The video also features Francis Moran, Research Associate at University of Bath, who has been working closely with WeCanMake partners in the delivery of the Bristol demonstration homes. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The video had over 5,000 views on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, and Jas has been approached by local residents to ask for tips. As Jas says, "I am now the radiator lady of Knowle West. Everyone I meet wants me to come round and fix their heating. But I say - watch the video again and you can learn how to do it yourself." |
| URL | https://www.instagram.com/p/DDXAcT4tmiw/ |
| Description | Creating, implementing and sustaining an ecosystem for co-designing transferable solutions for retrofitting and remodelling existing social housing: The Transforming Homes GTE brings together a diverse range of stakeholders committed to co-designing solutions to provide Beyond Net Zero (BNZ) carbon homes suitable for current and future generations. Our interdisciplinary research focuses on interwar, 1920s-1940s, low-rise council-built houses which, despite being constructed with the best materials and knowledge of the time, now face challenges in meeting modern living expectations due to limited investment and evolving social priorities. The Transforming Homes consortium is tackling these challenges by using design, bio-based, recycled and re-used materials and low-carbon technologies to transform the homes. Through innovative co-design processes and principles of design research, we are identifying opportunities to create healthy, sustainable living environments for current and future generations. Design Research: The process of design research - that is research into the holistic design of the 1920-40s houses and homes using architectural design to explore space, environmental performance, comfort, and bio-based materials - have been shaped around 3 key activities: 1) A review of current policies, literature, design standards, co-design approaches, technologies, materials, and best practices that provided an essential understanding of the influences, limitations and opportunities on the transformation of these existing houses and homes. 2) Five co-design charettes (workshops) have been held in Swansea, Bristol, Norwich, Newcastle and Manchester to capture a diversity of communities living in these 1920-40s homes using design as the means to review and make adjustments. Findings revealed issues of space limitations, lack of storage, damp and mould, cold and hot spaces, high energy bills, maintenance issues, strong attachment to the homes, and engaged community groups, amongst many others. 3) Design studies are ongoing to respond to the findings from the charettes, consider opportunities for future beyond net-zero transformation/ retrofit works. A design catalogue is in production that sets out a range of possibilities and options for spatial adaptation, improving internal comfort, reducing operational energy, and using bio-based materials. This will be published as a design catalogue in the autumn 2025. Co-design and install of six demonstration retrofit council-built houses in Bristol: In WP3 we have conducted an in-depth analysis and co-design process including comprehensive monitoring, surveying and modelling of 6 homes in Knowle West, as well as conducting 6 community events including three design charrettes. From this analysis we have co-designed interventions for six homes utilising biobased materials. This co-design approach has mobilised a neighbourhood test space which will support the second phase of the project to implement the proposals which is the next key milestone. Our initial analysis has revealed a series of systemic defects with homes of this type, which are likely to be common across the UK. Initial findings also propose design solutions for these homes using biobased materials within the PAS2035 framework which will be the first time this has been done. Co-design and install of four demonstration retrofit council-built houses in Swansea: Cardiff University team have worked closely with Swansea Council for over 10 years and have a well established relationship that has seen both their new build and retrofit of housing stock develop faster than other social housing organisations as a result of their collaboration. Working together to generate evidence during the planning and early design stage, we are working together at the detailed design stage preparing for procurement. Information has been collected from building surveys, literature reviews, dynamic building modelling, modelling of homes, resident interviews and workshops, interviews with stakeholders and the supply chain and weekly meetings with Swansea Council to inform the design solutions proposed that cover spatial and design improvements, the use of biobased materials, and low carbon technologies to transform the homes for future generations. Community & Householder Engagement: We have successfully worked to embed community and householder participation at the centre of design process. In addition to feeding into the design processes, this work has enabled key insights into the value of embedding participation and the approaches to achieving good engagement: Key findings to date include: • Resident knowledge about how they use their homes brings important context to building data, opening new avenues of investigation and giving insight into how future designs might function. These are often seemingly 'small' or non-technical elements of how a home is used but that can have important impacts for designs. • Listening to resident experiences of past interventions into their homes gives context to mistrust of retrofit measures and can reveal pathways to remedy this. Our engagement with residents has offered important insight into past experiences of retrofit measures (such as cladding or ventilation) or other in-home interventions (like installation of fire safety) that have been negatively experienced in terms of the process of delivery or not met expectations and sometimes created further issues. This gives context to resident mistrust of interventions and resistance to have measures installed. Engaging with these past experiences and reassuring residents about the expected outcomes of retrofit is likely to be important to rebuilding trust and delivering retrofit more widely. • Engaging residents through collective meetings or workshops, rather than individually, can be an important to rebuild trust and community relations, but this needs to be done with care and sensitivity to the complexity of resident experience. Giving space in meetings and workshops to hear resident concerns and answer questions has been valuable, and being clear on expectations and project parameters has been critical. This means there is important work to do within delivery phases too in navigating these relationships through periods of disruption and transition. Professional Stakeholder Engagement: We have, to date, conducted 12 stakeholder interviews across two demonstrator sites. Preliminary findings have illuminated the policy and governance systems that impact on transforming homes beyond net zero including tensions between broader policy aspirations and local contexts, which organisations have to navigate. Implications for scaling transforming homes processes, across different contexts, will be drawn out through wider stakeholder workshops (planned for the summer). Skills & Training in retrofit: • There is a lack of diversity in the skilled construction trade sector, with an under-representation of female workers. • Brexit has not significantly affected the retrofit sector due to a considerable shift to non-EU workers and the inclusion of retrofitters in the Skilled Worker Visa. • Key skills gaps identified in the retrofit sectors are a lack of i) basic building physics knowledge, ii) specific retrofit skills for traditional buildings, iii) insufficient practical work experience opportunities, iv) comprehensive retrofit training pathways, and v) effective marketing and retrofit awareness in schools to incentivise career choices. |
| Exploitation Route | Creating, implementing and sustaining an ecosystem for co-designing transferable solutions for retrofitting and remodelling existing social housing: Connection, communication and collaboration are key to support the successful delivery of the project, and the consortium is working very closely together to ensure that transfer of knowledge between 10 partner organisations (4 academic and 6 industry/community/government). This is fully supported by a full time Research Associate who is committed to the project and engages in all activities to ensure cross fertilisation of knowledge is maximised. Design Research: It is hoped that findings will provide a body of work for Local Authorities, Housing Associations, resident groups, construction industry and more to build upon. It will encourage and support wider awareness of the importance of the holistic transformation of existing houses and homes beyond the retrofit approach to environmental performance, increased uptake of engaging in participatory design methods with residents, and speculative design options to promote long-term transformation approaches. Co-design and install of six demonstration retrofit council-built houses in Bristol: The mobilised neighbourhood test space presents a replicable model by other communities to engage in in street-wide approaches to retrofit which have the potential for wider neighbourhood transformation. The defects in these homes are likely common in homes of this type in the UK and may aid residents, and landlords to identify the cause of damp and mould related problems. Our design proposals have been designed to an RIBA Stage 4 level and represent a series of typological solutions that can be replicated across Knowle West and similar houses in the UK. Co-design and install of four demonstration retrofit council-built houses in Swansea: The work has been delayed due to the discovery of a material during structural surveys that was installed in the cavities during the 1980s. This has impacted on the initial design solutions. Chemical testing is underway to confirm the make up of the material and discussions with other organisations who have treated homes with the material have been carried out. It is understood that this product is installed in 10,000s of homes across the UK and the solutions that are developed through transforming homes will be transferable to other homes. Knowledge will be shared via report. Community & Householder Engagement: The findings from our community and householder engagement are likely to be useful to a wide range of organisations including local councils, community organisations, and housing associations. We anticipate they will be put to use by others in the following ways: • Providing knowledge about resident and community experiences to inform the design of retrofit processes and their implementation. We have given several presentations and engaged with our partners directly to enable this knowledge to be used. We also plan to take this forward by developing specific resources and toolkits for resident and community engagement in retrofit that can be used more widely. • Developing their own plans for resident engagement to include more interaction between residents and seek insight from residents on their experiences of living in their homes, moving beyond acceptance or willingness to have interventions in their homes. • Rethinking approaches to retrofit by embedding greater community involvement and moving the focus beyond individual homes. The project provides evidence for the value of community-based approaches to retrofit and the wider benefits that processes of national retrofit can provide in regenerating places. This evidence can inform the development of more community-based approaches to retrofit both within local bodies and nationally. Skills & Training in Retrofit: • Updating the curriculum at Further and Higher Education to bridge the retrofit skills gap • Informing national and local authority policies regarding local, place-based approaches in retrofit skills to address the lack of diversity and skilled workers in the sector • Introduce retrofit specific competencies and related compulsory CPD activities for professional chartership routes. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Construction Energy |
| URL | https://www.transforminghomes.org.uk/addressing-the-energy-retrofit-skills-gap-insights-from-the-transforming-homes-workshop/ |
| Description | Creating, implementing and sustaining an ecosystem for co-designing transferable solutions for retrofitting and remodelling existing social housing: Activities include fortnightly informal huddles with presentations from internal and external speakers, three weekly management meetings, quarterly steering group meetings with Future Observatory, Transforming Homes Steering Group and with AHRC. Weekly design research workshops bringing consortium members together to focus discussions around a core theme such as How can the architectural and heritage value of the homes be respected and enhanced during transformation? Consortium members are presenting at a wide range of activities from academic conferences (International Retrofit Conference) through to industry focussed events (Future Build) to engagement with residents. These are attended by representatives from areas of different expertise across the group to stimulate multidisciplinary collaboration. Design Research: The co-design charettes have had positive impact on the residents involved and their connection to active community groups. Residents have felt more knowledgeable about their homes currently and what opportunities are available to transform them to meet their needs. Residents have become more aware of what they can do to improve space use and internal comfort in relation to typically complicated architectural and technological solutions. The design catalogue will provide real Local Authorities, Housing Associations and wider construction industry methods, processes, options and designs to inspire and promote the uptake in holistic beyond net zero housing transformation. Co-design and install of four demonstration retrofit council-built houses in Swansea: Cardiff University team have worked closely with Swansea Council for over 10 years and have a well established relationship that has seen both their new build and retrofit of housing stock develop faster than other social housing organisations as a result of their collaboration. Working together to generate evidence during the planning and early design stage, we are working together at the detailed design stage preparing for procurement. Information has been collected from building surveys, literature reviews, dynamic building modelling, modelling of homes, resident interviews and workshops, interviews with stakeholders and the supply chain and weekly meetings with Swansea Council to inform the design solutions proposed that cover spatial and design improvements, the use of biobased materials, and low carbon technologies to transform the homes for future generations. The work has been delayed due to the discovery of a material during structural surveys that was installed in the cavities during the 1980s. This has impacted on the initial design solutions. Chemical testing is underway to confirm the make up of the material and discussions with other organisations who have treated homes with the material have been carried out. It is understood that this product is installed in 10,000s of homes across the UK and the solutions that are developed through transforming homes will be transferable to other homes. Knowledge will be shared via report. Community & Householder Engagement: The engagement work we have carried out as part of the project has had positive impacts for those residents engaged in the research project, including by shifting perceptions of home, community relations, and of retrofit. For perceptions of home, the workshops and other engagement activities have provided important spaces for residents to share common problems with their neighbours, understanding that these are not individual issues to be individually solved, but common occurrences that can be collectively remedied. Knowing that neighbours in similar properties were facing similar issues, and learning about the data behind buildings, took the burden off individual residents and their actions when it came to problems in homes. The work has also enabled new connections to be built between residents enabling stronger community relations that have continued beyond the engagement process itself. The research has also supported residents to gain understanding of retrofit and of how homes can be transformed. This has been empowering for residents allowing them to reimagine their homes in ways fit for the future. Training & Skills in Retrofit: We participated in discussions with the Bristol City Council regarding their decarbonisation agenda of the housing stock, where key findings were disseminated to inform policies that address the retrofit skills gap locally. This is part of follow-up conversations joining forces with ongoing work by the Cabot Institute at the University of Bristol in green skills at Lawrence Weston in Bristol. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Construction,Energy |
| Impact Types | Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | AHRC Design Accelerators: Round Three |
| Amount | £50,296 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | UKRI729 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2025 |
| End | 08/2025 |
| Description | Engage and Involve Grant |
| Amount | £2,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Bath |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| Description | Localised MMC for Retrofit |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | West of England Combined Authority |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2025 |
| End | 03/2026 |
| Description | Participate Grant |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Bath |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2024 |
| Description | Retrofit Reimagined Street Demonstrator |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Thirty Percy Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2025 |
| End | 12/2025 |
| Description | 2024 Consortium Summer Writing Retreat |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | In July 2024, consortium members convened outside Bristol for a two-day, in-person writing retreat organised by Dr Veronica Albarran Carrillo and Prof. Jo Patterson as part of the Transforming Homes project. The retreat focused on planning initial outputs, brainstorming ideas, and advancing early-stage writing for papers and reports. This event proved invaluable in a fast-paced project environment, offering both the physical and mental space necessary for focused work. Follow-up activities are planned throughout 2025 to further develop these initial ideas as the research progresses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | ASBP 2024 Impact Report |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Our partners at the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) featured the Transforming Homes project in their 2024 Impact Summary report. The report was distributed via ASBP's website and newsletter, reaching over 6,000 industry contacts. This provided an opportunity to increase awareness of the Transforming Homes project among a wider audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://asbp.org.uk/asbp-news/asbp-2024-end-of-year-summary |
| Description | ASBP Healthy Buildings Conference & Expo 2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Organised by the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP), a key partner of the Transforming Homes consortium, this conference was used as a partner for Simon Corbey, ASBP CEO and Transforming Homes co-investigator) to introduce the project to a new audience and raise awareness of its aims and expected outcomes. The audience included policymakers from MHCLG and DEFRA. Transforming Homes colleagues were also in attendance, including Principal Investigator Pete Walker and Research Associates Joel Cady and Lucy McFadzean, facilitating networking opportunities. It is hoped that both the project introduction and the networking opportunities will lead to further engagement opportunities for the project in the near future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://asbp.org.uk/healthybuildings2025 |
| Description | Architects' Journal Climate Champions Podcast (interview) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Melissa Mean, Director at WeCanMake and Transforming Homes co-investigator, was interviewed on the Architects' Journal's Climate Champion podcast. In this episode, Melissa explains neighbourhood and street-by-street approaches , and the 'expanded' version of retrofit developed through the Transforming Homes research which includes spatial transformation and green infrastructure alongside fabric improvement and renewable energy. This holistic approach makes retrofit a game-changer that transforms residents' lives by simultaneously reducing overcrowding and improving comfort by addressing thermal performance and air quality. It also makes the retrofit "socially contagious" as it connects with people's housing needs and aspirations at a broad level. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/aj-climate-champions-podcast-retrofit-is-seen-as-really-ali... |
| Description | Beyond Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Transforming Homes Co-Director, Prof. Jo Patterson, represented the consortium at the Beyond Conference, which explored the innovative potential of Creative Cities. Expanding on Transforming Homes research, she highlighted how councils employed creative approaches in designing urgently needed social housing between the 1920s and 1940s. She then explored how co-design and design research can now be used to creatively transform these homes for future generations, taking them beyond Net Zero. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Bio-minded Society for Net-Zero Carbon Construction at UWE Bristol |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Richard Broad, Director of the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) and Co-Investigator for the Transforming Homes project, participated in a seminar and workshop at the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol. The event, primarily attended by undergraduate students, featured Richard speaking about ASBP and providing a brief introduction to the Transforming Homes project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Bristol Co-Design Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Residents of the Bristol demonstration homes and Transforming Homes researchers convened for a co-design workshop to explore and prototype retrofit solutions for their homes. Information and analysis from the 6months+ data monitoring of the demonstration street homes; and a range of potential design intervention. Each household worked with a small team that included researchers and designers to explore in detail options for their home; and then the individual design propositions were integrated at a neighbour-to-neighbour and a whole street level. Scale models, data analysis, and hands-on prototyping kits were all used to aid the co-design process. The participative decision-making methodology (quadratic voting) was used to test, inform and prioritise the next steps for the research process. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | British Academy roundtable on the DESNZ public participation strategy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This focused session follows a previous discussion which sought to introduce a broader understanding of publics and net zero for participants from DESNZ, MHCLG, Cabinet Office and GO Science. The session focused on the government's commitment in its response to the CCC in December to publish a Public Participation Strategy (see Priority R2023-162 in Accelerating to Net Zero). The DESNZ team working on this strategy joined the meeting to draw on SHAPE (Social Science, Humanities and Arts for People, Economy and Environment) evidence to deepen understanding around some of the challenges in this space (taking a place-based approach, empowering mid-level actors and building in co-benefits and fairness), with a view to developing conclusions of practical value. Impacts are yet to be determined but the session is anticipated to have influenced the strategy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Community Design Workshops (Design Charrettes) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Our team of researchers has delivered three Design Workshops between November 2024 and January 2025: the first at the Phoenix Centre in Mile Cross, the second at St Martin's Centre in Walker, and the third at Benchhill Community Centre in Wythenshawe. These workshops are a crucial component of our co-design process, as they allow us to integrate the insights and experiences of residents and communities who live in the types of homes our research project aims to transform. The workshops proved to be an important activity in deepening our researchers' understanding of the dynamics within these spaces and the potential opportunities for change, as identified by the residents themselves in reflective activities held during the workshops. Residents in all three workshops were keen to find out about the research outcomes, and requested we share with them the design guide to be created with feed-in from these workshops. In Walker and Wythenshawe the research team made contact with local social housing providers (Newcastle City Council and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group respectively) to connect with research participants. Following the workshop, having spoken to the residents in attendance, both housing providers have requested to hear more about the research. In addition, Wythenshawe Community Housing Group have requested a follow-up meeting to discuss how they can replicate the workshops after hearing from residents that they were very well received. These follow-up conversations are being arranged for February 2025 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Elmhurst Conference Wales 2024 - engaging with industry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Providing evidence on the need for accurate data from industry - Elmherst lead on energy assessment, retrofit and property professionals from across the UK and help with training software and accreditation. To tranform our housing stock it is critical that this sector understand the need for change. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk/elmhurst-conference-wales-2024/ |
| Description | Engagement Lunch and Learn at Cardiff University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This activity was a hybrid (in-person and online) lunch talk delivered by Laura Brain in December 2024 to an audience of 40 research staff members at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, as part of a series of knowledge exchange activities within the school's community. The talk focused on community engagement, particularly the approaches used during design charrettes to inform design solutions for transforming interwar housing. Emphasis was placed on the artefacts and tools developed to stimulate creativity and facilitate meaningful conversations with workshop participants. The presentation sparked a highly interactive Q&A session, fostering valuable discussions and feedback. Following the talk, four attendees reached out to learn more about the consortium's work and explore potential opportunities for collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Future Observatory Green Transitions Ecosystems Researchers Forum (FO GTE Researchers Forum) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In this event reuniting the four Green Transition Ecosystems (GTE), Principal Investigator Prof Pete Walker and Co-director Prof Jo Patterson introduced the project aims and progress. Research Associate Dr Louise King was a panellist on the theme of: Challenges and opportunities in fast-paced multidisciplinary projects. Co-investigator Dr Steve Coombs represented Transforming Homes in the panel 'Beyond academic research: alternative dissemination methods; and Co-investigator Dr Robert Grover did presented in the panel 'Research impact: Gathering evidence for impact evaluation'. Insights were shared with GTE members across all projects and sparked discussions on navigating complex, high-pressure environments where expectations and outcomes must align across multiple disciplines and funding requirements. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Futurebuild 2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Richard Broad, Director of the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) and co-investigator for the Transforming Homes project, chaired a seminar session at the prominent trade show and conference, Futurebuild, in London. During the session, focused on 'Natural materials for new build and retrofit', Richard provided a brief introduction to the project and facilitated a presentation by Transforming Homes colleague Emma Taylor from the University of Bath, who shared further details about the initiative. The seminar attracted significant interest, with a standing-room-only audience of approximately 100 delegates. Futurebuild, which takes place over three days, regularly welcomes more than 20,000 attendees. ASBP also had an exhibition stand at the event, where representatives engaged with industry professionals and discussed the Transforming Homes project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://asbp.org.uk/events/asbp-futurebuild-25 |
| Description | GW4 Roadshow event - Greater than the sum of our parts - Transforming Homes Consortium - how seed funding can help collaborations blossom |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On 9th May 2024 from 11am-1pm, an informative and engaging session, where you can learn more about GW4's strategic priorities, programmes of work, funding schemes and the audience groups who we work with and support. The event will be an opportunity to: Hear from the GW4 Alliance Director, Dr Joanna Jenkinson, about GW4's four research priority themes - Sustainable Net Zero, Health and Wellbeing, Cyber and Digital, and Creative Communities - and how you can get involved. Learn how GW4 could help support your research secure external funding and hear about GW4's recent external funding wins. Explore the benefits of collaborating with colleagues across the GW4 Alliance, and our external partners. Learn how to apply for funding to develop new or existing research and innovation communities and other activities (up to £20K for research projects and £5K development awards). Explore how to access expertise and equipment across the GW4 Alliance via our facilities database, including state-of-the-art facilities. Discover how to access GW4 archives and special collections across the Alliance. Learn about tailored career and professional development support for PGRs, ECRs and technical staff including our GW4 Connect programme, GW4 Crucible and GW4WARD. Transforming Homes contribution focussed on research in low carbon built environments (led by Jo Patterson) and design (led by Steve Coombs) has been taking place at the Welsh School of Architecture for over 15 years, where collaborating closely with a wide range of stakeholders to provide evidence needed to make informed decisions towards achieving Net Zero whilst providing high quality built environment has been at the heart of our work. Steve Coombs was also part of the GW4 Circular Economy of Timber Buildings Building Communities Generator Award, led by Eleni Toumpanaki, which ran from June to November 2022. This network had key input from the materials team at Bath University as well as other colleagues across Cardiff and Bath. It provided an opportunity to develop networks with external stakeholders through a series of workshops focused on the benefits of using timber in construction through its lifecycle. When the AHRC Green Transitions Ecosystems call was announced in January 2023, it seemed natural to combine and enhance our two well-developed research areas to advance from 'retrofit' to 'transformation', with a focus of co-design involving design, materials, technologies and people at the core. With the application deadline in March 2023, we already had a well-developed consortium with a clear focal point, putting us in a strong position to move quickly and identifying areas of expertise that would strengthen our proposal. We were all a bit surprised in July 2023 to learn that our application was successful, but we embraced the challenge of utilising the £4.6m grant. We are now working closely together to deliver outcomes that will provide evidence to help transform housing for future generations. At the GW4 Roadshow event, other collaborations supported by GW4 were also represented including the South Wales and South-West Mental Health Platform Research Hub, led by Professor James Walters, the Island of Ireland Contemporary History & Politics network led by Dr Thomas Leahy and Director of University Library Services, Tracey Stanley. Over 80 staff members from various departments across Cardiff University attended the event, and feedback has been extremely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://gw4.ac.uk/news/transforming-homes-consortium-how-seed-funding-can-help-collaborations-blosso... |
| Description | Host organisation and papers presented at CIBSE Technical symposium 'Fit for 2050 - Delivering Buildings and defining performance for a net zero built environment |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Hosted international conference - 2 day event attended by more than 200 professional, academic and policy makers from across the built environment sector. https://www.cibse.org/knowledge-research/knowledge-resources/technical-symposium-papers/2024-technical-symposium-papers |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.cibse.org/knowledge-research/knowledge-resources/technical-symposium-papers/2024-technic... |
| Description | In-person and online engagement for the delivery of a Community Design Workshop in Mile Cross, Norwich |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | During the months of October and November 2024, Dr Lucy McFadzean and Laura Brain conducted a series of in-person and online meetings with a range of stakeholders, including community groups and local government representatives in Mile Cross. The goal was to seek their support in engaging the local community and promoting resident's participation in a Community Design Workshop, also known as Design Charrette. These charrettes are part of the Transforming Homes project and aim to gather insights on the experiences of residents living in 1920s-1940s low-rise council-built homes to help inform the development of scalable design solutions to improve these homes and create better places to live. The team engaged with several local organisations, including the Phoenix Centre, the Mile Cross Project Exchange Group (MXPEG), the Mile Cross Man, the Shoe Box Community Connectors, Our Power Project, The Green Doctor, local PTA members and Mile Cross Community Connectors at Norwich Council. These engagement activities were crucial in helping identify potential participants. Stakeholders also expressed interest in being kept informed about the project's progress and the outcomes and learnings from the charrettes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Introduction of Transforming Homes project at ASBP quarterly working group meetings. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Leveraging the platforms developed by the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP), project partners Simon Corbey and Richard Broad introduced and discussed the Transforming Homes project at several of ASBP's quarterly working group meetings, including: Natural Fibre Insulation Group - 15 leading manufacturer and supplier members (08/01/25, 30/09/24) Paints & Finishes Group - 9 leading manufacturer and supplier members (23/01/25, 26/09/24) Lime Group - 8 leading manufacturer and supplier members (04/02/25, 29/10/24) These sessions provided a valuable platform to raise awareness of the project among industry stakeholders and generate interest in its objectives. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| URL | https://asbp.org.uk/group/natural-fibre-insulation |
| Description | Meetings with steering groups and representatives of public and private sectors in Wales |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Throughout 2024 and 2025, as a partner in the Transforming Homes consortium, Woodknowledge Wales continues highlighting project progress to steering groups and public and private sector representatives in Wales, including the Welsh Government. The key focus of these discussions is on retrofitting homes with bio-based materials. The objective of these activities is to further opportunities for engagement including embedding learning from the project outcomes into active retrofit projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Meetings with suppliers and manufacturers as part of the process of undertaking the design research for WP4 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | From March to December 2024, the team delivering Work Package 4 have been in contact through online and in-person meetings with suppliers and manufacturers from several different areas of the construction industry to discuss available materials / products / systems and their potential for use in the demonstration homes. This activity has been ongoing throughout the development of the design research. Generally, the discussions involve explaining the project overall, the specific aims of the demonstration homes, and the potential for using suitable materials / products / systems. Possible results of the discussions may include Swansea Council continuing discussions with suppliers and manufacturers as they develop the detailed designs for the homes, and/or knowledge and connections gathered transferring to other work packages. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Ministerial Roundtable with Minister for Climate Change Kerry McCarthy and chaired by Government Chief Scientific Advisor Angela McLean |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A roundtable discussion contributing expertise on green choices and behaviour which led to a meeting note utilised to inform policy decisions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | NERC: Natural Environment Research Council 'Building a Green Future' Congress London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An invite only interactive event with focused panel discussions, prominent keynote speakers and panel members, and project teams from key UKRI investments supporting the clean energy transition and development of a sustainable green economy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | National Housing Maintenance Forum workshop on bio-based building material research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Focussed workshop presentation to National Housing Maintenance Forum members on bio-based building materials, including proposals developing application for retrofitting as part of the Transforming Housing and Homes project. Workshop included discussion of barriers to wider uptake of novel, in particular bio-based, materials in construction. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Net Zero Panel : How to Deliver on the Green Prosperity Plan- D expert/leadership group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Round table discussion to build on the governments emerging policies and debate what will be the crucial drivers for success, the innovation that can be brought and how best to make collaboration work. Chris Rowell | Head of Net Zero, Tees Valley Combined Authority - unique position of TCVA in industrial decarbonisation, being the lead on hydrogen, and carbon capture The innovation ecosystem and the launch pads and how companies can collaborate and engage - either directly on net zero programmes or how you facilitate them as part of a supply chain Professor Jo Patterson, Director of Research, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University about the need to transform our housing stock Stephen Elderkin, National Highways |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.dgroup.co.uk/ |
| Description | Online engagement for the delivery of a Community Design Workshop in Walker, Newcastle. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | During the months of December 2024 and January 2025, Dr Lucy McFadzean and Laura Brain conducted a series of online meetings with a range of stakeholders, including academia, community groups and local government representatives in Walker. The goal was to seek their support in engaging the local community and promoting resident's participation in a Community Design Workshop, also known as Design Charrette. These charrettes are part of the Transforming Homes project and aim to gather insights on the experiences of residents living in 1920s-1940s low-rise council-built homes to help inform the development of scalable design solutions to improve these homes and create better places to live. The team engaged with several local organisations, including St Martin's Centre, academics in the Department of Architecture at Newcastle University, The Farrell Centre as well as Your Homes Newcastle and the Net Zero Team within Newcastle City Council. These engagement activities were crucial in helping identify potential participants. Stakeholders also expressed interest in being kept informed about the project's progress and the outcomes and learnings from the charrettes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Online engagement for the delivery of a Community Design Workshop in Wythenshawe, Manchester |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | During the months of December 2024 and January 2025, Dr Lucy McFadzean and Laura Brain conducted a series of online meetings with a range of stakeholders, including community groups and local organisations in Wythenshawe. The goal was to seek their support in engaging the local community and promoting resident's participation in a Community Design Workshop, also known as Design Charrette. These charrettes are part of the Transforming Homes project and aim to gather insights on the experiences of residents living in 1920s-1940s low-rise council-built homes to help inform the development of scalable design solutions to improve these homes and create better places to live. The team engaged with several local organisations, including Carbon Co-op, People Powered Retrofit, Low Carbon Homes, CLASS and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group. These engagement activities were crucial in helping identify potential participants. Stakeholders also expressed interest in being kept informed about the project's progress and the outcomes and learnings from the charrettes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Panel participant at Natural Fibre Insulation (NFI) Summit 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | As part of 'Natural Fibre Insulation Week,' the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) hosted the 'Natural Fibre Insulation Summit.' Invited by our partner, Richard Broad, Laura Brain participated as a Transforming Homes representative in an online panel discussion on key issues affecting the construction, housebuilding, and retrofit sectors. The discussion included a debate on how natural fibre insulation (NFI) can play a crucial role in addressing these challenges. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://asbp.org.uk/events/nfi-summit-2024-the-big-debate#:~:text=About%20NFI%20Week%202024&text=%23... |
| Description | Power (Film making) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Filmmakers from London (power.film) visited the Factory and Andover Road, interviewing local residents and some of the WCM team to find out more about the research behind the Retrofit Street demonstrator. The Transforming Homes project will feature in the forthcoming feature length documentary film that will showcase pioneering approaches to retrofit from across the UK. The film is intended to have a broad distribution, including film festivals at national and international level. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at the 'Building with Nature: Launch of the Hemp Wool Insulation' event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Two presentations representing the Transforming Homes project were delivered at the 'Building with Nature: Launch of the Hemp Wool Insulation' event held at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, during December 2024. The event was attended by 20 stakeholders. The first presentation, delivered by Laura Brain and Joel Cady, focused on the exploration of bio-based materials and the potential for integrating these materials into local authority projects. The second presentation, Dr Emmanouil Perisoglou shared insights on monitoring and modelling retrofits that integrate bio-based materials and renewable energy technologies. Drawing on his extensive experience with research projects, including Transforming Homes, he provided a comprehensive overview of the innovative approaches being developed to enhance sustainability and energy efficiency in housing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at the 'New Ideas for Old Buildings' Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This in-person presentation, delivered by Laura Brain and Joel Cady in November 2024, was part of the 'New Ideas for Old Buildings' Conference organised by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) and the Sustainable Traditional Building Alliance (STBA) in York, UK. The presentation entitled 'Design and Heritage: Transforming Interwar Social Housing' introduced the project to a diverse group of stakeholders in heritage and building conservation, emphasising the importance of preserving built heritage and historic building fabric when transforming interwar housing. The talk generated significant interest, with attendees actively participating in a Q&A session. Following the event, six stakeholders reached out to learn more about the project. Additionally, the conference provided an excellent networking opportunity for our researchers, fostering connections within the heritage and conservation community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at the ACEB Conference 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Partners Dr Diana Waldron and Richard Hawkins delivered a presentation titled 'Bio Materials in Retrofit: An Industry Perspective' at the ACEB Annual Conference in September 2024. They introduced ongoing work by Woodknowledge Wales and Sevenoaks Modular on the use of biobased materials for retrofitting the UK's building stock. The presentation also covered various related initiatives, including their involvement as partners in the Transforming Homes consortium. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at the Housing Asset Management Maintenance and Repair. NHMF Regional Group. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Approximately 100 delegates attended the event for a presentation about the project, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards with new contacts formed expressing interest in the project and its outcomes for developing their professional practice. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Presentation for Future Observatory ECR Network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Lucy McFadzean delivered an online presentation on resident engagement within the Future Observatory Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network recurring meeting. The meeting was attended by around 25 ECRs from the four Green Transition Ecosystems funded by the AHRC. During the session, Dr. McFadzean explored the various ways the project is engaging with communities, including interviewing residents, co-creation workshops, community events, and nation-wide charrettes and how this is being integrated into the project's co-design processes. The event facilitated knowledge exchange among the researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation for Greater London Authority |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | An introductory online presentation on the Transforming Homes research project was delivered by Dr Lucy McFadzean to 15 members of the Greater London Authority's Infrastructure Team. The presentation focused on how the project's aims intersect with the development of green infrastructure in large cities, exploring potential applications and benefits. The session provided a valuable opportunity for networking and knowledge exchange. Following the presentation, there were engaging discussions, with attendees expressing interest in staying updated on the project's progress and outputs. The event helped raise awareness of the project's potential contributions to urban planning and sustainability. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation for Milner Associates |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Our Transforming Homes research delivered a presentation on energy retrofitting using timber frame walls, hosted by Milner Associates, a structural engineering company. The seminar, attended by 20 local industry professionals, featured a presentation and debate aimed at sharing expertise and encouraging discussion on sustainable building practices. As a result, deepened their understanding into the materials element of the Transforming Homes research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation to Housing Asset Management, Maintenance and Regeneration (HAMMAR) Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on Transforming Homes project, including outline and updates as well as tour of laboratory facilities and associated experimental work at University of Bath. Audience from National Housing Maintenance Forum South West membership under umbrella of HAMMAR. After presentation discussion of challenges associated with retrofitting social housing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation to UK FIRES Living Lab |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Around 30 participants from universities, UK businesses and government joined a full day of talks as part of UK FIRES, which is a large EPSRC-funded programme grant. Dr Will Hawkins gave an update on UK FIRES research as well as its impact on other projects, which included Transforming Homes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Providing evidence on the Foundational economy evidence session - Senedd Cymru - Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The Senedd's Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee launched an inquiry on the Foundational Economy, and Senedd Members. Evidence was provided at a panel at the Senedd Cymru. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Retrofit Community Showcase at Springfield Allotments |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Led by our WeCanMake partner, Melissa Mean, this was the culmination event for the co-creation week with local residents participating in the street demonstrator, members of the wider community, stakeholders from across Bristol came together for a showcase event at the local allotment, which is a key community space within the neighbourhood. The purpose of the event was to share the emerging retrofit ideas and designs from the co-design workshop with the wider community and stakeholders. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Retrofit My Street co-design workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Andover Road residents, researchers and technical experts gathered at The Factory in Knowle West to imagine, design and prototype retrofit solutions for their homes and street. After months of sensing in residents' homes, the day provided an engaging opportunity to bring together this data with the everyday lived experience of participants, and to build a better understanding of the role that retrofit can play in making homes more comfortable and better for people and planet. Scale models, sets of interaction retrofit playing cards, prototyping kits were all used to demystify retrofit and the research process and build shared understanding between community members and researchers. An innovative participative decision-making methodology (quadratic voting) was used as part of the co-design process and involve community members in helping to guide the priorities for the next phase of the research. This first co-design workshop was held as part of a suite of activities across a community-focused "co-creation" week, whereby Transforming Homes researchers engaged community members in a series of creative co-design and research activities. These included a closed road "playing out" session on the demonstration street, a film screening in a community space, and a community showcase event that shared the emerging ideas and designs with the wider community. The outcomes shaped the next phase of the research, including developing detailed retrofit design briefs for each of the households on the demonstration street. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://wecanmake.org/fieldnotes/retrofit-street-cocreation-week/ |
| Description | Retrofit Street Warm Up event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Kick-off event on our neighbourhood demonstrator street, bringing together local neighbours to introduce the concept of 'retrofit', and carry out a high level demonstration of heat loss by scanning homes with a thermal imaging camera. The event was crucial in setting the scene for our work, and identifying potential participants for the Transforming Homes research project. Between this event and subsequent doorknocking on the street, WeCanMake identified six households to take part in the research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Round Table organised by PolicyBristol: Discuss with Bristol City Council priorities and needs in energy retrofit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | In this event, key members of the Bristol City Council (including the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee, and Senior Policy, Strategy and Public Affairs Officer) addressed their agenda regarding decarbonisation of the housing stock with a particular emphasis in energy retrofit requirements (estimated at £4 billions). Our colleagues highlighted key activities of the Transforming Homes projects that are perfectly aligned with the current needs of the BCC to address fuel poverty, liveable homes (no moulds and damp), improve the health and wellbeing along with the skills required for tenants and practitioners. Our TH partners engaged in discussions with colleagues from the University of Bristol and the Bristol City Council regarding skills required, community led initiatives, certified installers and qualitative training and lifelong learning (CPD activities). They highlighted the need for a holistic approach in decarbonising the housing stock including embodied carbon and the use of biobased materials and regenerative design approaches. Bristol City Council is interested in tackling skills challenge at a local level. There will be follow-up discussions and how to inform policy along with colleagues at the University of Bristol |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | South Bristol Retrofit Showcase |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | One year after our first 'Retrofit Street' event in Knowle West, over 70 people gathered at The Factory to share the emerging research from Transforming Homes project and celebrate a year of co-designing neighbourhood solutions for retrofit. This was an opportunity to share emerging ideas with the wider community, bringing together local residents, councillors, academics, technical retrofit experts and trades people from across the UK. Residents shared their experiences in a panel discussion alongside Sara Edmonds (National Retrofit Hub), Immy Kaur (Civic Square), and John Christophers (Retrofit Balsall Heath/Zero Carbon House), showing how the emerging research findings are reaching national audiences and stakeholders. Attendees also explored the Bristol demonstration homes designs, engaged with biomaterials which may be used in retrofit works, and participated in activities encouraging small, practical steps for home retrofits. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Spring Design Workshops |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The Spring Design Workshops, organised by Joel Cady and Laura Brain, are in-person events running from February to April 2025 across three locations: Bath, Bristol, and Cardiff. The programme consists of eight workshops, attended by rotating groups of experts, each exploring one of eight themes or research questions within the Transforming Homes project. These workshops are bringing together a wide range of knowledge to shape the development of our transferable design catalogue for transforming 1920s-1940s homes, with 32 people from nine of our Transforming Homes partner organisations. Workshops consist of discussion and idea development, drawing and model-making, and reflection on the outcomes generated, which are then shared across the consortium for feedback and input in a one-hour online session. The findings are informing subsequent workshops and will contribute to a body of work presented for review at a whole-consortium charrette in the spring. To de day of the submission deadline of the report, four workshops have taken place with their impact still under evaluation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Stakeholder Interviews |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Louise King undertook interviews with stakeholders involved in the Transforming Homes demonstration projects in Bristol and Swansea. Stakeholders were drawn from the project consortium and beyond. Interviews investigated key challenges and opportunities facing stakeholders around a range of issues including policy and governance; biobased materials; engaging residents; and scaling up design solutions. Expectations around project outcomes were also discussed and interviews will be repeated towards project culmination with the same participants. Interviews provided crucial insights into issues facing stakeholders and participants including members of Swansea Council and Bristol City Leap requested further information on project outcomes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Stakeholder decision-making workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Dr Louise King facilitated a workshop with 12 members of the Transforming Homes consortium, including both academic and industry members. This workshop is the first of three which will take place throughout the duration of the project and are a key component of our stakeholder engagement activities, providing critical insights into the transformation co-design process and the underpinning policy and governance context. Reflective activities undertaken during the workshop allowed stakeholders to reflect on the project and identify key decision-making points and moments of change. Stakeholders worked in groups to encourage discussion across diverse professions. Workshop outcomes will form part of wider work around decision making with a focus on demonstrator projects which will then be drawn into wider discussions with stakeholders beyond the project to identify key challenges and opportunities with housing transformation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Stakeholder engagement workshop at the Future Observatory ECR Network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Louise King took a lead as a Transforming Homes representative in an online workshop on stakeholder engagement within the Future Observatory Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network recurring meeting. The meeting was attended by around 15 ECRs from the four Green Transition Ecosystems funded by the AHRC. During the session, Dr King explored the various ways the project is engaging stakeholders, including stakeholder interviews and decision-making workshops. The workshop discussed identifying and prioritising stakeholders, key platforms used to facilitate collaboration, impacts of stakeholder engagement, ethical considerations, social and environmental impact considerations, stakeholder management and innovation. The event facilitated knowledge exchange among the researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | State-of-the-art Charrette |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | In April 2024, 26 members from eight of our Transforming Homes partner organisations met at The Engine Shed in Bristol for a charrette. The morning session featured presentations from various working groups on the state-of-the-art review (SOTAR), providing an overview of advancements in key research areas, facilitating knowledge sharing, and identifying gaps. In the afternoon, a workshop enabled the multidisciplinary team to process these insights and define pathways for a design research brief. This brief will shape a catalogue of home transformation design solutions. Discussions also focused on synthesising the SOTAR findings and strategies for sharing Transforming Homes' insights with a wider audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Technical talk / Q&A with 5th Year MArch Students at WSA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Laura Brain presented the Transforming Homes to Part II Architecture students at WSA and took part in a Q&A on retrofit strategies, alongside another professional practitioner working in the field of conservation / retrofit. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Transforming Homes Bluesky Profile |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Veronica Albarran Carrillo launched the Transforming Homes Bluesky account in January 2025. This platform is dedicated to sharing brief updates on the project's progress and promoting upcoming events. As a newly established communication channel, it is in the early stages of audience growth, with 30 subscribers to date. These stakeholders represent academia, industry, and the public sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://bsky.app/profile/transforming-homes.bsky.social |
| Description | Transforming Homes Full Consortium Meetings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Our Transforming Homes Full Consortium Meetings are held quarterly and have been running since the project's inception. The location rotates between the University of Bath, Cardiff University, the University of Bristol, and the University of Exeter. These meetings bring together most of our 47 consortium members, representing 10 partner institutions across academia, industry, practice, local authorities, and the third sector. Each two-day, in-person meeting provides a platform to discuss progress across our seven Work Packages. Sessions typically include workshops that drive research forward, covering topics such as the state-of-the-art review, upscaling transformation, dissemination strategies, refining project outputs, and exploring future research directions. These meetings are a valuable forum for cross-consortium knowledge sharing, fostering collaboration across disciplines. They also serve as a space for learning, exchanging perspectives, and collectively shaping the Transforming Homes vision while addressing key challenges. To date, five consortium meetings have been held. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Transforming Homes Huddles |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The Transforming Homes Huddles have been running since 2024, with 23 sessions delivered to date in an online format. These quarterly meetings are designed to foster knowledge exchange within the Transforming Homes Green Transition Ecosystem, addressing the multidisciplinary nature of the research. The huddles provide a platform for sharing expertise, building collaboration, and facilitating dialogue amongst consortium members and external stakeholders. External guests from industry, academia, and third-sector organisations have been invited to contribute, bringing valuable insights to inform the project. Participating organisations include Greengauge, Future Observatory and the National Retrofit Hub, alongside presentations from stakeholders within the consortium, such as Mikhail Riches and the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP). The primary impact of these huddles has been the development of an interdisciplinary and collective understanding of the Transforming Homes project. They have strengthened collaboration among partners and encouraged dialogue, which has contributed to a more cohesive approach to achieving the project's objectives. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Transforming Homes LinkedIn Profile |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Since its official launch in June 2024, Dr Veronica Albarran Carrillo and Prof Jo Patterson have managed the Transforming Homes LinkedIn account. The platform is tailored to share research progress with a broader network of stakeholders and to disseminate information about events organised by the consortium or where Transforming Homes is represented, to enhance interest in the project. To date, the account has attracted over 300 subscribers from countries including the UK, Mexico, Australia, and Ireland. It has achieved more than 21,000 impressions, 600 page views, and over 770 interactions. These come from a diverse range of sectors, including research, education, and the third sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/company/transforming-homes/ |
| Description | Transforming Homes Neighbourhood Tour |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Local, national, and regional level partners took part in a daylong tour of the Retrofit Street demonstrator. Stakeholders included Bristol Council, Bristol City Leap, Centre for Sustainable Energy, Innovate UK, West of England Combined Authority, and Living Places. The day included a tour of the Factory to see how localised digital fabrication kit could be used to make biomaterial retrofit components; a structured discussion to explore how biomaterial retrofit could be scaled through innovative approaches to finance, and a visit to meet residents on the demonstration street. The purpose was to inform the development of a Neighbourhood Climate Investment Plan to support a portfolio of neighbourhood Net Zero transition projects, including the emerging ideas from Transforming Homes focused on whole street biomaterial retrofit. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Transforming Homes Newsletter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Transforming Homes newsletter, designed and edited by Dr Veronica Albarran Carrillo, was launched in April 2024. To date, seven issues have been published, including three public-facing editions. The newsletter provides updates and insights across the Transforming Homes project, featuring blogs, reflections, and transforming homes events, as well as highlights relevant to our research themes. This effort reaches over 50 individuals from our partner organisations, more than 40 direct subscribers, and additional audiences through our website and social media channels, where it has gained further engagement. Additionally, content from the newsletter has been amplified through partner organisations' media channels, with select blogs being republished to expand its reach and impact. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| URL | https://www.transforminghomes.org.uk/output-category/newsletter/ |
| Description | Transforming Homes Website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A website was developed by Prof Pete Walker, Prof Jo Patterson, and Dr Veronica Albarran Carrillo as the primary public-facing resource for the Transforming Homes project. Launched in July 2024, the website provides key information about the project and the partners involved, details of ongoing activities, and updates on research progress. Since its launch, it has attracted over 1,600 users from countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Germany and China. 41 visitors have also signed up for updates, representing a diverse range of stakeholders from industry, academia, local councils, and third-sector organisations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| URL | https://www.transforminghomes.org.uk/ |
| Description | Transforming Homes and Energy Retrofit Webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | reported increased interest in related subject areas." (Max. 12000 characters) The 'Transforming Homes and Energy Retrofit - Mapping of Gaps in training and skills' Webinar engaged over 80 participants in addressing the skills gap in the energy retrofit sector. The workshop, led by our Bristol partners Dr Eleni Toumpanaki and Dr Dominika Malkowska, featured keynote presentations from industry experts, including Charlotte Surrey (The Green Register), Barbara Jones (School of Natural Building), Chris Brookman (Back to Earth), and Steve Bertasso (New Model Institute for Technology & Engineering). These speakers shared insights on sustainable construction training, practical skills development, and innovative solutions to overcome industry challenges such as accessibility, training scalability, and workforce shortages. Following the presentations, participants joined a workshop where interactive breakout sessions were used to discuss key barriers and opportunities in retrofit training. Emerging topics included the need for a centralised training entry point, hands-on learning for building physics, public outreach, and removing barriers for SMEs. The event emphasised collaboration and innovative approaches as critical to addressing the skills gap and fostering a sustainable transformation in the UK's building stock. Participants expressed interest in further learn about the Transforming Homes project and it also served as a networking event between the industry experts and the rest of the attendees. The insights gained will guide our team's initiative to inform the creation and modification of training programs to address the skills gap in home transformation and retrofit to drive industry progress. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.transforminghomes.org.uk/addressing-the-energy-retrofit-skills-gap-insights-from-the-tra... |
| Description | Transforming Homes at FutureBuild 2025 panel discussions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Research associate Emma Taylor and co-investigator Melissa Mean represented Transforming Homes at FutureBuild 2025 in ExCel, London. The event provided a great opportunity to engage with suppliers, explore innovative products, and represent showcase different elements of the activities being delivered as part of Transforming Homes in the retrofit and materials stages. Emma joined a panel on the Materials Impact Stage, discussing natural materials for new builds and retrofit, chaired by our ASBP partners. She had the opportunity to talk about how Transforming Homes is exploring the use of bio-based materials to transform existing council-built homes from the 1920s-1940s period. Melissa participated in a session on the National Retrofit Conference Stage, discussing community-led retrofit in a panel chaired by the National Retrofit Hub. She was joined by Jas Tippet, a resident on one of the demonstration homes, in an insightful discussion on how #communities play a key role in tackling the retrofit challenge at scale. The event provided a platform for showcasing the research and networking. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Workshops and meetings with participating residents for the delivery of Swansea Demonstration Homes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Residents from 4 households participating in the project's Demonstrator Homes in Townhill. Swansea attended a 1-day workshop and took part in interviews. Resident's carers, the director of local community organisation The Phoenix Centre, and a local Swansea Council housing officer were also in attendance at the workshop. Residents discussed how they live in their homes, shared common problem areas, and learnt about retrofit solutions with our researchers, indicating those solutions they believed were best suited to their properties. A resident roundtable allowed participants to ask questions about the process and raise any concerns they had. Our research team have since taken these questions and concerns directly to the local authority and communicated the response to residents. Residents said they had found the day very useful in understanding the range of adaptations that could be applied to their homes. They requested another workshop ahead of the Demonstrator Project works and asked if the local authority could also be in attendance to answer queries. The research team are arranging this follow-on workshop as a result. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |