Proactive planning, collaborative thinking, and tangible outcomes – these were among the core themes that struck a chord at our Existing Stock Forum, hosted in collaboration with Conisbee at their fantastic event space in Islington, north London on 18/06/2025.
A huge thank you to Allan Dunsmore, Tabitha Sudbury and the team at Consibee for hosting what was an energising and insightful day.
Key insights from the day:
David Smith (South East Consortium) gave a clear and timely overview of the new Procurement Act, now in force. The message was clear: the new framework promises greater transparency, earlier supplier engagement, and more flexibility for SMEs—paving the way for higher-quality tenders and better delivery outcomes across the sector.
On the retrofitting front, Mellis Haward (Archio Ltd) and Emma E. (London Borough of Barking and Dagenham) shared standout engagement work with residents at the Becontree Estate. Residents loved the models of the houses on the estate that were created for the engagement and were able to appreciate the value of the proposed upgrades to insulation.
Gary Johns, Gavin McLachlan from Conisbee, and Jo Meehan and Jonathan Mortimer (Islington Council) presented the Harvist Estate case study, an estate that was built using Large Panel System (LPS) concrete slabs in the 1960s. Though efficient and cost-effective post-war, safety concerns grew after the 1968 Ronan Point collapse revealed weaknesses in structural integrity under stress. As a result, The Harvist Estate’s gas system was gutted and storage heaters were installed.
Lucy Brittain and Cai Hall of Cullinan Studio discussed plans to transition from the costly electric storage heating, linked to fuel poverty, to a low carbon (ASHP) energy centre to provide heating and hot water to the housing.
Lastly, the event concluded with a walking tour in the sunshine, looking at the Harvist Estate. Thanks to everyone that came a long to this event – we look forward to seeing you again soon.
