How can the built environment unite to support climate resilience and adaptation?

Resilience and adaptation to the changing climate are vital for the long-term sustainability and to future-proof the built environment sector.

Innovation across the supply chain can help us all lead better, more comfortable lives. As extremes in temperature become more common, we initiated a discussion on how the sector can succeed in supporting climate resilience and designing and building homes that adapt to the ever-changing environment.

During the third installment of our roundtable discussion, industry leaders discussed sustainable solutions to promoting biodiversity, such as green roofs, as well as the role Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation own attenuation crates can play in sustainable water management.

Speaking about what can be done to protect greenbelt land, the group also discussed using alternative areas such as those freed up by Network Rail. Not only this, but they touched on restrictions around ventilation and overheating in new properties as hotter temperatures and greater contrasts in temperature become more prevalent.

Polypipe Building Products representatives, along with housebuilders, housing associations, architects, and specifiers, shared their thoughts on supporting sustainable housebuilding in a recent roundtable.

Polypipe Building Products are using recycled materials to promote sustainability

To kick things off, in discussion, Adam Pointon, Group Materials Development Manager at Genuit Group explained the use of products like water attenuation crates, and green and blue roofs in urban areas. These have multiple benefits – they support climate resilience and increase biodiversity.

He went on to discuss that in periods of heavy rainfall or drought, greenery survives through the use of these attenuation crates, which help to manage water for passive irrigation in these green areas. Installing trees, shrubs, and plants isn’t enough, we also have a duty to make sure they survive and thrive in the future, otherwise their benefits aren’t realised.

“You might have seen lone trees with square pens around them in some developments. Our products allow passive irrigation all year round, regardless of the climate.”

“When there are periods of heavy rainfall incoming, we have a system that will then drain these crates prior so that when the rainfall does happen, we can capture that water and use it effectively, rather than it being wasted.”

“When we see times of intense heat, we can then load up these crates with water so that they can passively irrigate all throughout the year.”

Adam explained that this is important in keeping green spaces looking ‘green’, and to promote the use of sustainable products and the smart use of water. As well as minimising the impact on sewer systems. He said that Polypipe Building Products’ solutions are enhancing areas that are already very urbanised, and it is the ‘lowest carbon option when it comes to pipes’ due to the recycled material content.

Polypipe incorporates large amounts of recycled materials into its various below ground drainage product offerings. This infrastructure is unseen and doesn’t need to use virgin materials. The sustainability benefits of using recycled materials in these products are twofold. They support the longevity of greenery and increase the circularity of recycled plastics.

Adam Pointon said:

“Over the past year, we have used 52.1% recycled material in our products, and some of those products are made from 100% recycled materials. They are also all manufactured in Polypipe Building Products’ own factories in the UK.”

Green and blue roofs, biodiversity and climate resilience

The group also discussed how green roofs can provide cooling for interiors, so you don’t have to use air conditioning, as well as boosting biodiversity.

“Green space, on top of a rooftop, can increase biodiversity in urban areas.”

said Adam Pointon from the Genuit Group.

When it came to discussing blue roofs, the group spoke about the potential leaks as well as the overall impact on the structure of a building due to weight.

Louise Scannell, Design Director at WW+P Architects, said:

“They’re a great initiative for urban development sites when dealing with sustainable drainage, but it can be a no for insurance purposes with the risks of leaking. It also has additional weight implications, which means the use of more steel or concrete, which of course means more embodied carbon within a development.”

This presents a barrier to installing innovative and alternative forms of drainage and cooling methods, and is something that the industry – rule-makers, designers, housebuilders, and manufacturers – need to work together to overcome.

In terms of green roofs and spaces, housebuilders and architects need to consider what they’re trying to achieve, as Kate Watson, RISE Technical Lead and Sustainability Consultant from Turner & Townsend said:

“It’s important to understand if you’re just creating a green space or it’s designed as a habitat. The plants and substrates you use will impact the habitat you’re creating.”

She also explained how it is not always for human beings, and the creation of habitats for insects and birds can be beneficial.

However, she spoke about other weather conditions, such as how the amount of wind also needs to be considered when creating green roofs – whether that is a garden or a habitat, as this can affect moisture levels. The risk of green roofs drying out and becoming a fire risk was covered by the group, and the simple solution of keeping a tap on the roof was considered.  

Danielle Michalska, Group Technical Innovation Manager at Barratt Redrow, also spoke about unethical growing and said:

“We source the right planting for the right areas. At one of our sites, we have retained existing habitats and created more public open space, circa 60%, which is good for both biodiversity and people. And every five years, when we go back to survey, the rate at which the species have increased is phenomenal.”

“Through our work, we actually helped to bring back species to the area that had been in decline.”

“We have worked alongside Manthorpe Building Products to create a Swift nesting brick, which can be installed in any home and promotes the nesting of the protected birds.”

Biodiversity Net Gain is an essential part of developments and one that also has to be balanced with the other pressures of delivering a housing scheme. All planning applications must contribute positively to the environment to ensure that building doesn’t damage the habitats of existing fauna.

Why a ‘landscape-first’ design approach should be adopted

The group discussed how a ‘landscape-first’ design approach prioritises environmental harmony, and that architects should make features of the natural landscape rather than ‘fencing it off or flattening them’.

David de Sousa, Director at AHR explained how their approach looks at landscape and then buildings, and how aspects such as meadows can be visually enjoyed.

He said:

“We work closely with landscape architects to make that connection, and we think it’s really important for it to be as beautiful as it can be.”

Putting landscape first in housebuilding design is not only a respectful choice, but a practical one. Natural features like mature trees, streams, and contours offer a unique aesthetic appeal to each site. They also regulate temperature, support ecosystems, and develop a local identity.

A landscape-first approach uses the natural setting of the area as a foundation rather than a problem to be solved. Designing with these features in mind strengthens climate resilience, supports wildlife, and nurtures human wellbeing. It is important that, as we build on more greenbelt land that we learn to live symbiotically and preserve its character.

Major landowners like Network Rail can offer greenbelt alternatives

Major landowners like Network Rail will play an increasing role in meeting housing targets, and in producing well-connected housing developments. The discussion, which was held before the government’s announcement to offer up land owned by Network Rail to contribute to the creation of 40,000 new homes, suggested that this was a rich vein for new homes.

Louise Scannell pointed out that this can be tricky and that it can lead to complications with construction approval, but they are prime sites right next to railway stations, which makes them super sustainable options for new developments. They’re also near railway stations by nature, allowing residents to use existing transport infrastructure.

She also said:

“These are the sites we need to consider rather than looking straight away at greenbelt land as there is so much grey belt land in really high-sustainable positions close to transport links in town centres where all of the infrastructure is already there.”

David de Sousa agreed and said,

“We need to start exploring those sites first before we start chipping away at our precious environment. This should be higher up the agenda.”

How the NIMBY attitude and Council agendas can be restrictive

In conversation about councils blocking developments and backtracking on previously sound recommendations for new builds, David de Sousa spoke about a particular development that was dropped after plans for 470 homes were rejected.

He said:

“It’s just broken on so many levels. We need professional people who can steer the committee a little bit better because currently we’re seeing lots of ‘Nimbyism’, as councillors are worried about their constituency and their votes.”

Many in the industry feel that council agendas are preventing new infrastructure developments. However, the current government has recently announced powers to prevent this and speed up housebuilding to meet its five year target.

Overheating in new builds is necessitating smart ventilation solutions

The country is also facing an overheating problem driven by rising temperatures, poor building design, and the urban heat island effect. In extreme cases, overheating can lead to death. The Environmental Audit Committee estimates that thousands of preventable deaths occur each summer due to extreme heat. The capital’s densely packed buildings, limited green spaces, and inadequate ventilation in both old and new housing stock mean it is a growing issue.

The group discusses how modern residential developments that prioritise energy efficiency are inadvertently contributing to overheating by limiting natural ventilation and shading. The London Climate Resilience Review 2024 stresses the need for urgent adaptation in urban planning and architecture to address future extreme weather, including more frequent and severe heatwaves. Without coordinated action across government, planning, and housing sectors, London risks becoming increasingly unliveable during the summer months.

Kate Watson said:

“The issue of overheating is a real one, particularly in London and the larger cities. We must collectively better understand ventilation and its role in the built environment.”

The group speaks about overheating in new builds and how this necessitates smart ventilation solutions, but conflicting regulations create design challenges.

Kate spoke about the importance of security features on windows that can give occupants (renters and homeowners) peace of mind around opening their windows to get adequate ventilation.

There are also technology-based passive solutions being developed. Smart HVAC technology offers a solution to the overheating issues affecting many new homes and developments across the UK. By integrating intelligent systems that monitor and adjust indoor temperatures in real time, these technologies can maintain comfortable living conditions without excessive energy consumption.

Using Middle Eastern building design for cooling inspiration

Looking further afield to outside of the UK, the panel discussed European solutions and how other countries have been working with high temperatures through cross-ventilation due to their climate. Middle Eastern buildings are also designed with clever cooling characteristics, with their shaded courtyard designs. The group agrees that if hotter temperatures persist in the UK, this is something that will need greater consideration.

David de Sousa said:

“Middle Eastern inverted house design reduces the need for cooling technology as temperature regulation is baked into its design. We can take influence from this in our own home design.”

The group discussed taking inspiration from other countries to solve the problem of overheating and combatting not being able to keep windows open at night.

Overheating regulations are conflicting and restrictive for new developments

Housebuilders have found new regulations to be conflicting and restrictive when it comes to windows. Building Regulations Approved Document Part O imposes restrictions as to what can be classed as an openable window when conducting overheating modelling.

Danielle Michalska explained that with ground floor homes, the worry about ‘opportunistic burglars’ renders these windows unopenable on such models. The same was also said for noise constraints, for example it is assumed that windows on properties near train tracks need to remain closed.

She also said:

“We have to carefully consider how all the different parts of the building regulations work together, so that a change in one area doesn’t create unintended consequences in another.”

They also spoke about how this can result in reducing window sizes dramatically or restricting them, which impacts design. It was addressed that if the wider industry were consulted much earlier about overheating regulations, it would have facilitated a clearer understanding and much smoother implementation.

A lack of amenities and infrastructure is unsustainable for new build developments

As city centres are becoming more densely populated, developers are looking further afield to build new homes. While the government’s New Towns Taskforce identifies areas for new substantial dwellings, the group discusses the lack of existing infrastructure that these places are served by, making them unattractive for many prospective residents.

Kate Watson said:

“I personally wouldn’t want to live in a lot of those new build estates. While they might be built with sustainable materials and have better environmental credentials, you have to get in a car to get anywhere, as there are no local amenities.”

With many new build developments lacking amenities and infrastructure to make them more sustainable, this sees a greater reliance on cars, with public transport links being few and far between, at least to begin with.

However, the group discussed how there is limited car parking, and this results in parking on the pavement in some estates, which impacts accessibility for those needing to use the pavement, such as wheelchair users or those with prams.

It was clear from the roundtable that the industry professionals are aware of the steps that need to be taken to boost sustainability, not only through biodiversity, within aspects such as green roofs, but by ensuring that new developments are effectively linked to nearby infrastructure and public transport to ensure their absolute sustainability and longevity.

The group also made it clear that councils need to be working alongside housebuilders and architects to create feasible, long-term solutions to optimise new developments.

To find out more about how the built environment sector’s leaders see a successful implementation of new heating and ventilation technologies, follow our social feed, and read our next blog post from the roundtable series.

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