Transforming Housing and Homes for Future Generations
Lead Research Organisation:
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Department Name: Welsh School of Architecture (ARCHI)
Abstract
The housing sector is responsible for around 20% of the UKs total carbon emissions. With 80% of the homes that will be occupied in 2050 already built, retrofitting the existing housing stock to provide high quality homes, improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions is critical to achieve net-zero targets. Retrofitting existing housing is an infrastructure priority for the UK Government; it is also a significant design challenge.
Around 75% of the UK housing stock is more than 50 years old - designed for very different ways of living. Reimaging housing design, the materials used and technologies implemented is critical for the transformation of housing to be fit for current and future generations. Poorly executed design, the use of carbon intensive materials and installation of inappropriate technologies can lead to unintended consequences, including increased damp and mould and reduced indoor air quality which can affect health.
Current retrofitting approaches focus mainly on energy, ignoring challenges that residents face around space and design quality. Homes are not set out for current ways of living and redesign to enable this such as providing storage, places to engage as a family and home working are often not available. The retrofit market also relies 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 measures can exceed the carbon savings during use. Using bio-based materials such as cork and wood and recycled materials have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact as well as offer energy efficient, healthy and sustainable improvements.
Our project, the Transforming Housing and Homes for Future Generations Green Transition Ecosystem (GTE), is leading innovation in design research and co-design through a regional partnership between the GW4 universities of Cardiff, Bath, Bristol, and Exeter and businesses, the social housing sector and community groups. We are co-designing the transformation with residents, local authorities, social landlords, the construction industry, and other key stakeholders. Through interdisciplinary working we are designing, testing, implementing and monitoring innovative solutions to improve the quality of 1920-1940 Council built housing stock which account for approximately 1.4 million of the homes occupied in the UK today. We are seeking how to enable a legacy of positive behaviour change, supporting job creation, local and regional supply chains, and strengthen local delivery capacities.
We are working in two communities in Bristol and Swansea to develop and demonstrate solutions whilst engaging with residents across the UK who live in 1920-1940 homes to really explore what types of homes they live in, rather than making assumptions. Our design research led process includes co-design, digital modelling, prototyping, monitoring and testing appropriate and transferable options. Our approach aims to improve spatial quality, well-being, affordability and ease of construction.
Our design research will 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 education and wider community engagement, in partnership with our communities and the Future Observatory, we will encourage the retrofit process enabling wider challenges of our housing stock to be transformed for future generations.
Around 75% of the UK housing stock is more than 50 years old - designed for very different ways of living. Reimaging housing design, the materials used and technologies implemented is critical for the transformation of housing to be fit for current and future generations. Poorly executed design, the use of carbon intensive materials and installation of inappropriate technologies can lead to unintended consequences, including increased damp and mould and reduced indoor air quality which can affect health.
Current retrofitting approaches focus mainly on energy, ignoring challenges that residents face around space and design quality. Homes are not set out for current ways of living and redesign to enable this such as providing storage, places to engage as a family and home working are often not available. The retrofit market also relies 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 measures can exceed the carbon savings during use. Using bio-based materials such as cork and wood and recycled materials have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact as well as offer energy efficient, healthy and sustainable improvements.
Our project, the Transforming Housing and Homes for Future Generations Green Transition Ecosystem (GTE), is leading innovation in design research and co-design through a regional partnership between the GW4 universities of Cardiff, Bath, Bristol, and Exeter and businesses, the social housing sector and community groups. We are co-designing the transformation with residents, local authorities, social landlords, the construction industry, and other key stakeholders. Through interdisciplinary working we are designing, testing, implementing and monitoring innovative solutions to improve the quality of 1920-1940 Council built housing stock which account for approximately 1.4 million of the homes occupied in the UK today. We are seeking how to enable a legacy of positive behaviour change, supporting job creation, local and regional supply chains, and strengthen local delivery capacities.
We are working in two communities in Bristol and Swansea to develop and demonstrate solutions whilst engaging with residents across the UK who live in 1920-1940 homes to really explore what types of homes they live in, rather than making assumptions. Our design research led process includes co-design, digital modelling, prototyping, monitoring and testing appropriate and transferable options. Our approach aims to improve spatial quality, well-being, affordability and ease of construction.
Our design research will 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 education and wider community engagement, in partnership with our communities and the Future Observatory, we will encourage the retrofit process enabling wider challenges of our housing stock to be transformed for future generations.
Publications
Butler C
(2025)
Frontiers of interdisciplinarity in the environmental sciences
in Journal of the Institution of Environmental Sciences. Interweaving disciplines
King L
(2025)
Transformative change: how can meaningful trans-disciplinary approaches accelerate housing decarbonisation?
in Journal of the Institution of Environmental Sciences. Interweaving disciplines
Patterson J
(2025)
Interdisciplinary research: more than just a good idea
in Journal of the Institution of Environmental Sciences. Interweaving disciplines
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 | 31/03/2025 | 30/03/2028 | £4,167,445 |
| Title | Andover Road Retrofit Zine |
| Description | A community-facing, illustrated retrofit "zine" documenting and sharing the process of housing transformation in Knowle West, Bristol, with a focus on the demonstration homes delivered as part of the Transforming Homes project. The zine is produced in both digital and printed formats and was commissioned by Transforming Homes partner Knowle West Media Centre. Made by local artist Mereida Fajardo, it communicates the home transformation process, project developments and local perspectives in an accessible and visually engaging format for residents and the wider community. Editions published to date include January 2026 and February 2026. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | The zine is designed to be distributed locally through WeCanMake and other community networks, providing residents with accessible information. In addition to documenting the transformation process, the zine includes practical guidance on home maintenance and highlights opportunities for residents and local practitioners to engage with low-carbon retrofit approaches. By presenting progress and findings in an accessible and visually engaging format, the publication aims to increase awareness of retrofit practices and support community engagement with housing transformation initiatives. Data on reach, distribution and audience engagement is currently being collected. |
| URL | https://kwmc.org.uk/blog/retrofit-street-residency/ |
| Title | Engagement resources for retrofit school sessions |
| Description | A printable engagement resource pack co-designed by researchers from the University of Bath and Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC). The pack includes a suite of creative, participatory tools developed to support retrofit and sustainability engagement sessions. Each session is accompanied by both brief and detailed facilitation plans, alongside bespoke activity materials. Resources include: Session 1: Floor plan grid paper and 2 x 2 matrix dot-matrix feedback board. Session 2: House plan foldable template drawings and Retrofit budget game (dame includes Retrofit role cards, Retrofit budget sheet and winner medals). Session 3: 'Redesign a Local Street' activity resources including street map drawing, foldable furniture drawings and role cards. Session 4: Retrofit Puzzle Game and Retrofit Career pathway cards. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | This engagement pack was delivered through two interactive sessions (2-3 June 2025) with 14 Level 1-3 Construction students at City of Bristol College, in collaboration with two college tutors. The sessions increased students' awareness of natural insulation materials, their environmental benefits, and the role of community co-design in retrofit projects. Feedback collected through questionnaires, reflective evaluation, and participatory methods (e.g. sticky notes) indicated high levels of engagement and learning. Tutors described the sessions as highly valuable and expressed interest in embedding them as an annual activity within the course. Students reported gaining new insights into retrofit practice and sustainable materials, and demonstrated strong interest in retrofit career pathways, including requesting information about work placements and internships linked to natural insulation materials through KWMC. |
| URL | https://kwmc.org.uk/blog/retrofit-learning/ |
| Title | Transformation Training Tool: Transforming Homes 1:1 eaves detail |
| Description | A full-scale (1:1) construction model was designed and built in the workshops at the University of Bath to represent a typical eaves detail found in 1920-1940 council-built homes. Measuring 100 x 100 x 50 cm, the model presents two comparative scenarios: the existing construction condition and a proposed retrofit solution. Each side was constructed using materials that accurately replicate the respective build-ups, enabling the layered assembly to be clearly visualised. The model was created as a practical training and knowledge exchange tool. By making concealed construction elements physically accessible, it helps to build understanding of retrofit sequencing, material interfaces and installation considerations. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | This model was exhibited at WeTheCurious for a community Discovery Day in September 2025. The day had 476 visitors, including 88 from community partners. lt has also supported skills development and practical understanding of retrofit detailing among the delivery team implementing the proposed solutions. It was used to deliver training to a local community trade team of 15 participants prior to installation works on the Bristol Demonstration Homes. The session took place at The Factory, Bristol where the model enabled construction challenges within the existing homes to be clearly demonstrated and more readily understood through its accessible, hands-on format. The model remains located at this venue and has since been photographed and annotated, extending its reach beyond the initial training session. These visual resources have enabled the detail and associated learning to be shared more widely. It is planned to be exhibited at FutureBuild 2026 in May at the Excel Centre, London. |
| Title | Transformation Training Tool: Transforming Homes 1:1 floor detail |
| Description | A full-scale (1:1) construction model, designed by the University of Bristol and fabricated in their workshop, illustrates the retrofit approach for replacing an existing suspended floor with a concrete-free insulated solid floor system. Measuring 40 x 90 x 60 cm, the model represents the full construction build-up. As the key layers are located below ground level and would not be visible once installed, the model was developed to clearly demonstrate the construction sequence and component interfaces. It was created as a practical training resource to support delivery teams and to facilitate knowledge sharing and wider dissemination of the retrofit approach. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2026 |
| Impact | The model has been developed to support practical understanding of retrofit challenges in existing homes by making construction sequencing and material interfaces more accessible through its hands-on format. It is intended to be used as a training and knowledge exchange resource for delivery teams implementing retrofit solutions within the Bristol Demonstration Homes. The model is scheduled for use in an upcoming workshop at The Factory, Knowle West Media Centre (Bristol), where it will be introduced to an audience of approximately 10 participants. This session is expected to support practitioner engagement, improve understanding of installation processes and contribute to skills development. |
| Title | Transforming Homes Bio-based Tapestry |
| Description | A 45 cm x 700 cm hand-crafted jute tapestry co-created with participants during the Festival of Tomorrow Finale in Swindon. Over two days, attendees-including families and young people-contributed reflections and drawings on A6 postcards responding to the Transforming Homes exhibition, which explored the potential of bio-based materials in future housing. Both the postcards and a range of bio-based materials were woven, tied, and collaged directly into the tapestry, creating a layered assemblage of natural fibres and public contributions. The finished piece functions as a collective artefact that captures community perspectives on sustainable housing futures while materially demonstrating the tactile and aesthetic possibilities of bio-based materials in creative practice and public engagement. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2026 |
| Impact | The tapestry functioned as a participatory knowledge exchange tool for non-specialist audiences. Developed through contributions from the public, including families, it engaged individuals who may not typically encounter academic research in this field. Its co-creative process invited participants to imagine future homes shaped by bio-based materials, fostering reflection, discussion, and informal learning. By materialising these "future imaginaries" within a shared textile piece, the work made complex sustainability concepts tangible and relatable. Early indicators of impact include strong public participation, with over 70 people engaging in its creation, and sustained interest in the exhibition's themes. The tapestry demonstrates an effective approach to widening research access and enabling community-led conversations about sustainable housing futures |
| Title | Transforming Homes Illustrated Postcards Set |
| Description | A set of four double-sided A6 illustrated postcards developed for public engagement. The front of each card features a line drawing of a UK council house façade built between 1920 and 1940, inspired by the Transforming Homes demonstration homes in Bristol and Swansea. The reverse provides child-friendly prompts inviting participants to imagine how the home could be transformed using natural and bio-based materials through drawing, colouring, and collaging. The set aims to function as a hands-on tool supporting informal learning, creative participation, and engagement with sustainable housing futures. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2026 |
| Impact | The postcard set was developed for and first used during the Festival of Tomorrow. It was used within the Transforming Homes exhibition activities to support informal interaction with younger audiences and families. The resource enabled hands-on participation, with children actively depicting future housing ideas onto the illustrated façades. This facilitated accessible conversations around sustainable materials and housing futures between participants. Around 300 postcards were utilised, most of them were either included in the Transforming Homes Bio-based tapestry our coloured and collaged and taken away by kids and families. The resource demonstrates value as an adaptable engagement tool for communicating housing research to younger public audiences. |
| Title | Transforming Homes Pop-up exhibition Type 1 (Including Cart) |
| Description | A Transforming Homes Pop-up exhibition Type 1 was assembled by the Transforming Homes Team at Cardiff University and showcases tangible elements emerging from the project's research process and tools for engaging non-specialist audiences. These included models exploring potential solutions for 1920-1940 council homes, posters from Community Co-design Workshops (2024-2025), samples of biobased materials, and interactive engagement materials such as retrofit cards and the our home bingo. This exhibition uses the Transforming Homes cart as the central element for the display. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | This exhibition has been included in different events and tailored to different audiences, including: The CHC Asset Management Network Event at the Welsh School of Architecture on 23 September, 2025, attended by +60 representatives from 24 social landlords across Wales, and where the exhibition supported presentations delivered by the Transforming Homes team at Cardiff University. The GW4 Innovation Showcase, held at the House of Commons and sponsored by Claire Hazelgrove MP in collaboration with the GW4 Alliance on 29 October, 2025. Transforming Homes showcased along exhibitions from other GW4 initiatives, highlighting the value of regional research and innovation across four of the UK's most research-intensive universities: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, and Exeter and was attended by 150 guests from across policy, academia, funding bodies, civic leadership, and industry. The Festival of Tomorrow Finale (Living the Future) at The Deanery CE Academy, Swindon on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 February. Presented at the UK Research and Innovation zone, which was visited by around 4294 attendees from a general audience. |
| Title | Transforming Homes Pop-up exhibition Type 2 (Excluding cart) |
| Description | This pop-up exhibition features a wooden model of a demonstration home in Swansea, designed to be assembled and disassembled to illustrate the materials being studied for insulation, as well as other design solutions to transform interwar council-built homes. The display also includes material samples, interactive games developed to support creative engagement with residents, postcards, and the project's banner. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | The exhibition has been displayed in events for different audiences. It has been showcased at 'Y Farchnad' (Marketplace) at the Welsh Senedd in Cardiff on November 2025 within the GW4 stand. It supported direct engagement with policymakers, as Principal Investigator Jo Patterson used the visual and material elements as communication tools during conversations with Members of the Senedd. Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) staff away day on October 2025 at the UKRI Swindon headquarters. |
| URL | https://gw4.ac.uk/news/cross-border-research-and-innovation-showcased-at-the-senedd/ |
| Description | This research has created, implemented and is sustaining an ecosystem to co-design transferable solutions for remodelling and retrofitting 1920-1940 Council built housing to created better homes for future generations. The Transforming Homes Green Transition Ecosystem brings together a diverse range of stakeholders committed to co-designing solutions to go beyond retrofit providing high quality, healthy homes for current and future generations. Our interdisciplinary research focuses on 1920-1940, low-rise council-built homes which were constructed using the best materials and expertise of the time. Residents who live in these homes now face challenges in meeting modern living requirements due to a lack of investment over the last 100 years and evolving social priorities. The Transforming Homes consortium is tackling these challenges through exploring the design and layout of the homes, the use of bio-based and recycled 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: a process that embeds users and their context into a cyclical design process that enables the generation of co-designed ideas and solutions is being used to inform the modify the architectural design of the homes. Space and layout, environmental performance, comfort and the use of bio-based materials are part of this exploration which has been carried out through: 1) A review of policy, literature, design standards, co-design approaches, technologies, materials and best practices have been carried out that is fundamental to understanding the influences, limitations and opportunities on the transformation of these existing homes. 2) Co-design charettes (workshops) that have been held across in Swansea, Bristol, Norwich, Newcastle, Manchester and London. These events involve a diverse range of stakeholders including residents who are living in 1920-40 homes, architects and planners involved in the planning and design and supply chains who specify materials and solutions. Activities put design at the forefront, allowing attendees to share experiences, opportunities and challenges. Findings have revealed both positive and negative aspects around the homes including strong attachment to the homes, engaged community groups as well as space limitations, common areas of damp and mould, variable temperature challenges and maintenance issues. 3) Design Research is ongoing, responding to findings from the charettes whilst utilising the diverse experiences of from experts across the consortium. A Design Research catalogue is under development that sets out a range of options involving spatial adaptation, using of bio-based materials and incorporating reduced energy demand, supply and storage. The Catalogue will enable a comparison of implications of the options including embodied and operational energy, capital and operational cost, disruption to residents and maintenance requirements. Co-design: Community and householder participation are at the centre of design process. In addition to feeding into the design processes, key insights into the value of embedding participation and the approaches to achieving positive engagement have been discovered. Key findings 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 changes in design 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 including how they are used. • Listening to resident experiences of past modifications to their homes gives context to acceptability and delivery and maintenance communications required. Our engagement with residents has offered important insight into past experiences of works, such as ventilation and heating and electrical installations where the process of delivery has not met expectations and sometimes created further issues. This helps to remove assumptions of where concerns and challenges exist. Engaging through these past experiences and discussing expected outcomes with residents is important to rebuild trust and transform homes more widely, providing clear insights as to when, who and how engagement should take place. • Engaging residents through collective workshops, rather than individually, can help to develop community relations, particularly if other stakeholders are involved. Care and sensitivity to the complexity of resident situation and experience need to be take. Listening to concerns and answering questions has been valuable, as well as being clear on expectations and project limitations has been critical. Navigating relationships and ensuring clear and accurate communication throughout the whole process from planning, design, procurement, installation and maintenance and operation is fundamental. Professional Stakeholder Engagement: Stakeholder interviews have taken place across the demonstration projects in Bristol and Swansea as well as with other stakeholders involved in retrofit processes across the country. Findings have indicated that policy and governance systems have significant impact on transforming homes beyond net zero, creating tension between broader policy aspirations and local contexts. Demonstration homes: Six demonstration homes are being delivered across 1920-1940 estates in Bristol and Swansea. Pre transformation monitoring, surveying and modelling of the homes as well as interviews, events and workshops have taken place in both locations. Transformation solutions for the 6 homes have been developed and discussed with residents in depth. Issues with the homes have been confirmed from the cross country charettes to be common across England and Wales, enabling outcomes from the delivery of the demonstration homes to be relevant to homes across the nation. In Bristol the homes are owned by the occupiers. The co-design approach has mobilised using community engagement activities which are supporting communications through the implementation phase. Design, procurement and delivery are led by University of Bath in partnership with We Can Make. Residents are being trained as part of the Trade Crew and are developing knowledge and skills to share with others across the local area. Biobased materials being used comply with British Standard PAS2035 framework enabling large scale transferability in future transformations. In Swansea the homes are owned by the Local Authority, who own 14,000 other homes across the region. The 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. Challenges have been faced, including the discovery of a material in the cavities of the homes which is creating damp that needs to be treated alongside health issues limiting resident disruption. Swansea Council are leading the design utilising the design research outcomes and expertise from the Transforming Homes ecosystem. |
| Exploitation Route | An ecosystem for co-designing transferable solutions for the transforming of existing housing is developing and strengthening involving the wide range of stakeholders. Information and processes that are required to enable successful transformations to take place with positive outcomes are being explored, evaluated and determined including through Co-Design and Design Research. Connection, communication and collaboration are key to enable the successful delivery of the project, the consortium is working closely to ensure that transfer of knowledge and expertise between 11 partner organisations, 4 academic and 6 industry/community/government, takes place regularly and openly. Design Research: An evidence-based set of outcomes that can be used by Local Authorities, Registered Social Landlords, community groups, the construction industry and residents is being compiled. This set of outcomes, developed using interdisciplinary research methods, will support awareness of the importance of the holistic transformation of existing going beyond retrofit approach supporting increased uptake of participatory co-design and design research methods and the development and consideration of a range of design options through the decision-making process to promote long-term transformation approaches. Co-design: Methods of engagement with the community groups as well as with broader resident groups across the country are developing replicable models including engagement activities to street-wide approaches for neighbourhood transformations and what information residents, supply chains and policy makers need to know. Explorations are revealing that opportunities and challenges discovered from residents living in these homes and estates are common across England and Wales, with solutions being designed being transferrable across the 1.4 homes built by councils during this period. Research since th discovery of the material found in the cavities of the homes in Swansea has resulted in further evidence being sought and information around the extent of the problem. 10,000s of homes across the UK and solutions that are developed and demonstrated through transforming homes will be transferable to other homes The findings from our community and householder engagement are starting to be tested by organisations including local authorities, community organisations and registered social landlords in the following way: • Providing knowledge about resident and community experiences to inform the design of transformation, procurement processes, measures of success of the impact and implementation. Consortium members have been involved in many events to enable this knowledge to be shared and used and this will continue. Resources for residents and community engagement from TH experience are being developed to enable varying durations of training and engagement to take place. • Rethinking approaches to transformation by embedding greater community involvement and moving the focus beyond individual homes. Evidence of the value of community-based approach to transformation and the wider benefits benefit of regenerating places beyond an individual home. This evidence can inform the development of more community-based approaches to retrofit both within local bodies and nationally. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Construction Education Energy Government Democracy and Justice Other |
| URL | https://www.transforminghomes.org.uk/resources/ |
| 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, weekly leadership and early career researcher meetings, bimonthly advisory group meetings, meetings with Future Observatory, Transforming Homes Steering Group and with AHRC. Design research workshops where consortium members come together to focus discussions around core themes such as what are the key measures of success to be used to demonstrate design solutions? Consortium members have, and continue to, present at a wide range of activities from academic conferences (CIBSE) through to industry focussed events (National Housing Maintenance Forum activities) through to engagement with residents. Outcomes from Transforming homes have been shared through wider research activities where partners are involved such as a Demonstration Home in Port Talbot funded by UK Government that saw 350 visitors over 10 small group activities from Government, Social housing, members of the public and supply chains. Representatives from areas of different expertise from the consortium participate to stimulate multidisciplinary listening, feedback and engagement. Design Research: Feedback from the co-design charettes across the country have been positive from residents. Residents felt more knowledgeable about their homes 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 resulting Design Catalogue will provide methods, processes and measures of success for a range of design options to inspire Local Authorities, Registered Social Landlords, the wider construction industry and residents to make informed transformations. Demonstration homes: The 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. Working together to generate evidence during the planning and design stage such as building surveys, dynamic building modelling, resident interviews and workshops, interviews with stakeholders and the supply chain and weekly meetings supported decision making. Detailed design and procurement to respond to resident feedback. Community and Householder Engagement: The engagement work carried out has had positive impacts for those residents engaged in the research project, including by shifting perceptions of home, community relations, and of the benefits transformation can bring. For perceptions of home, 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, but common occurrences that can be collectively remedied. Knowing that neighbours in similar properties were facing similar issues and learning about the data behind building helped to reduce anxiety. New connections were established developed stronger community relations. This has been empowering for residents allowing them to reimagine their homes in ways fit for the future. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2025 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Construction,Education,Government, Democracy and Justice,Other |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | Dr Emmanouil Perisoglou involvement in Technical Committee Influencing UK Building Services Standards (CIBSE Symposium) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Dr Perisoglou's participation in the CIBSE Technical Symposium Technical Committee contributes to shaping the direction and quality of research presented at the symposium and ensures that robust, practice-relevant evidence is shared with building services engineers, consultants, researchers and policymakers. Through this forum, emerging research on topics such as building performance, energy efficiency and low-carbon retrofit is disseminated to a professional audience and incorporated into wider sector discussions. This helps strengthen the evidence base informing professional practice and technical guidance across the UK building services sector. By facilitating dialogue between academia and industry, the symposium supports the development of professional knowledge and skills within the workforce and encourages practices that improve building performance and environmental sustainability. |
| Description | Dr Emmanouil Perisoglou's participation on TM39 Building energy metering Technical Board (CIBSE guide) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Expert contributor to the Fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Contribution to the Health Chapter of the 4th UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA4) has informed the evidence base used by the UK Government to assess national climate-related health risks and to support adaptation policy decision-making. |
| URL | https://www.ukclimaterisk.org/newsroom/ccc-to-advise-the-government-on-its-fourth-assessment-of-uk-c... |
| Description | Natural insulation materials training co-delivered with WoodKnowledge Wales, SevenOaks Modular Ltd, Ecological Building Systems, University of Bristol and Cardiff University for Swansea Council |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | The training contributed to increased technical knowledge among Swansea Council team regarding the specification and installation of natural fibre insulation materials. Participants reported improved understanding of material performance characteristics and installation principles, strengthening the Council's capacity to incorporate bio-based insulation systems within solutions for existing and new built housing stock, starting with the project's demonstration homes. The session also supported organisational readiness by building internal expertise within the local authority delivery team. Following the training, Swansea Council expressed strong interest in extending this provision to a wider cohort of staff and exploring further advanced training sessions. |
| Description | School Retrofit Sessions |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | The sessions contributed to increased awareness and understanding of sustainable design, low-carbon and bio-based construction materials, and the importance of community engagement among Further Education construction students. By embedding research-informed content within an existing vocational course, the activity supported the integration of sustainability and retrofit topics into construction training. The sessions also strengthened links between academic researchers, a community organisation (KWMC), and Further Education training provision, supporting knowledge exchange between research and vocational practice. |
| URL | https://kwmc.org.uk/blog/retrofit-learning/ |
| Description | Upskilling of WeCanBuild Together neighbourhood delivery trade crew |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Training delivered through Transforming Homes has contributed to increased workforce skills and confidence in delivering bio-based and low-carbon home transformation solutions. Tradespeople and apprentices involved in the Bristol Demonstration Homes have developed practical installation expertise, with several expressing interest in pursuing retrofit as an ongoing career pathway. This approach has also influenced public attitudes and local demand. The trade crew members have shown increased interest in applying similar measures within their own homes, reflecting growing awareness of environmental benefits, indoor health considerations and energy performance. These changes demonstrate impact across workforce development, environmental sustainability and community uptake of retrofit solutions, supporting longer-term capacity to address housing decarbonisation challenges. |
| Description | Bath University Research Studentship Award (URSA) (via Doctoral Training Partnership) |
| Amount | £102,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2026 |
| End | 03/2030 |
| Description | Coordinated Renewable Energy and Storage for Net-Zero Neighbourhoods in the Swansea Bay Region |
| Amount | £99,843 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2026 |
| End | 03/2027 |
| Description | Forests and Reforestation sandpits |
| Amount | £852 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Department | Cabot Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2025 |
| End | 07/2026 |
| Description | Future Sparks Festival |
| Amount | £9,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | GW4 |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2025 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | Prototyping as Research: Making Relations between Communities and ECRs in Architecture, Art and Design |
| Amount | £600 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The British Academy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2025 |
| End | 11/2025 |
| Description | Timber Circularity: Affordable Housing Solutions from Waste and Disassembly (Research Development Fund) |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Worktribe project reference number: 3944600 |
| Organisation | Worldwide Universities Network |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2026 |
| End | 01/2027 |
| Description | Transforming Homes collaboration with Good Homes Alliance (GHA). |
| Organisation | Good Homes Alliance |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Our research team contributed specialist expertise and research insight to webinars hosted by the Good Homes Alliance. In November 2025, Professor Jo Patterson, Director of Transforming Homes, was an invited speaker in the webinar Delivering Low Embodied Carbon Social Housing co-organised by GHA and Welsh Zero Carbon Hwb . She contributed strategic and research-led perspectives on lessons learned from transforming 1920-40 social housing using non-extractive, bio-based materials. In January 2026, Transforming Homes researchers Dr Lucy McFadzean and Laura Brain participated as panel speakers in the webinar Co-Design, Handover & Post-Occupancy Evaluation. They shared applied research insights on resident co-design methodologies, engagement practices, and the role of post-occupancy learning in supporting successful housing retrofit and transition processes. Through these contributions, our team provided thought leadership, practice-informed evidence, and methodological expertise to housing professionals, policymakers, and industry stakeholders participating in the series, supporting wider capacity building across the low-carbon housing sector. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Good Homes Alliance has contributed to this collaboration by providing sector connectivity, dissemination platforms, and stakeholder access that have supported research delivery. Through its established network of housing providers, industry professionals, and sustainability practitioners, the Good Homes Alliance supported stakeholder recruitment for Transforming Homes research activities. For example, Richard Broad, in his capacity as Associate Director of the Good Homes Alliance, shared contact details of Registered Social Landlords in the South East of England in support of stakeholder workshops in 2025 and 2026. This facilitated the recruitment of research participants from across the social housing sector, strengthening the breadth of practitioner input into our research. Good Homes Alliance has also provided valuable platforms for disseminating our research progress and findings through their webinars and further engagement with Transforming Homes social media posts. |
| Impact | Good Homes Alliance & Welsh Zero Carbon Hwb Webinar: Delivering Low Embodied Carbon Social Housing (Online, November 2025) - Knowledge dissemination and sector engagement event https://goodhomes.org.uk/events/delivering-low-embodied-carbon-social-housing-in-wales Good Homes Alliance & Welsh Zero Carbon Hwb Webinar: Ensuring Better Outcomes for Residents: Co-Design, Handover & Post-Occupancy Evaluation (Online, January 2026) - Knowledge dissemination and public engagement event https://goodhomes.org.uk/events/webinar-ensuring-better-outcomes-for-residents |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Transforming Homes collaboration with the GW4 Alliance |
| Organisation | GW4 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Transforming Homes contributes to the GW4 Alliance by delivering a cross-institutional project that brings together researchers from the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter, thereby operationalising the core aims of the GW4 partnership. The consortium provides an active platform for interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange across GW4 institutions, combining expertise, perspectives and research strengths to support world-leading, collaborative research. Transforming Homes has contributed intellectual input and facilitated engagement across disciplines and institutions, reinforcing the value of shared networks and infrastructure within the GW4 alliance. Transforming Homes Principal Investigator, Professor Jo Patterson, has contributed directly to GW4 activities by hosting the GW4 Roadshow at Cardiff University in May 2024, where she delivered a presentation highlighting how a GW4 Network Grant influenced the development of the Transforming Homes project, providing a concrete example of how GW4 funding mechanisms can enable and support cross-institutional research collaboration. She also acts as Net Zero ambassador within GW4. Transforming Homes has contributed to GW4 communications and dissemination activities by enabling the publication and republication of consortium-related articles on the GW4 website. These contributions have supported wider awareness, visibility and engagement with Transforming Homes activities across the GW4 research community. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The GW4 Alliance has supported the Transforming Homes collaboration through strategic, governance and communications contributions that have enhanced the reach and impact of the consortium's activities. Katie Lidster, GW4 Research Development Manager, sits on the Transforming Homes steering group, providing strategic advice and guidance to the consortium. GW4 has provided platforms for Transforming Homes to present its work to key stakeholders, including Members of Parliament at the GW4 Innovation Showcase at Westminster in October 2025, and Members of the Senedd at Y Farchnad (The Marketplace) at the Welsh Senedd in November 2025. The GW4 communications team has also supported the dissemination of Transforming Homes activities and events through GW4 channels, helping to increase visibility and engagement across their existing audience. This has extended the reach of the consortium's work, facilitating engagement with policy audiences, and strengthening the profile and impact of Transforming Homes within and beyond the GW4 network. |
| Impact | GW4 Roadshow (Cardiff, May 2024) - Knowledge exchange activity GW4 Innovation Showcase (London, October 2025) - Policy engagement event & exhibition Y Farchnad (The Marketplace), Welsh Senedd (Wales, November 2025) - Policy engagement event & exhibition Transforming Homes-related articles published on the GW4 website (6 items) GW4-related articles published on the Transforming Homes website (2 items) |
| Start Year | 2023 |