Sheppard Robson to take part in our 'Retrofit and Renewal' forum this November

Image: Mark Kowal - courtesy of Sheppard Robson

Future Cities Forum is delighted that Sheppard Robson Partner Mark Kowal will be joining our 'Retrofit and Renewal' discussion event this November.

Mark has over 25 years of experience designing offices. Alongside his experience in commercial offices, Mark also has expertise in combining workplaces within complex mixed-use developments, as well as negotiating the planning complexities of working within Conservation Areas and with Listed Buildings.

Mark’s experience covers all aspects of office design, including speculative and headquarters buildings and covering both new-build and refurbishment solutions. Mark is also a professionally qualified project manager and a member of the Association for Project Management (APM). He has extensive experience in leading, designing and delivering major projects. Recent projects have been retrofit focused with repositioning and sustainability at the heart.

Future Cities Forum is being hosted for its 'Retrofit and Renewal' forum by engineering company Buro Happold. As well addressing the challenges of retrofitting commercial and historic buildings, the forum will discuss the current housing crisis and what the UK government intends to do to build more homes across the country while moving towards sustainable and affordable places to live. It will also highlight where energy retrofit has created sustainability excellence for public buildings and how retrofit is actively helping to restore uses for buildings into new ventures, such as retail into life sciences development and flexible commercial workspace.

The UK government has recently announced a home upgrade revolution as it confirmed last month that there will be a boost to minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties, bringing all homes up to a particular standard by 2030. How home owners retrofit their properties to comply has yet to be detailed.

NatWest and British Gas are reported to be joining together to attempt the decarbonising of up to 1,000 social homes. Places for People is also involved in a trial introducing green retrofit measures.

Meanwhile Grosvenor UK claims it has achieved more than one million square feet of retrofit across its London property portfolio and has ambitions to do more this year. It talks of investing around £90 million towards building green credentials in its buildings.

Back in the summer, energy firm Octopus with housebuilder Verto claimed to marching towards creating homes without energy bills for the first five years. The companies suggest it is a world first in rolling out solar, battery and heat pump arrangements for 'Zero Bills Homes'