Urban Retrofit

The URBAN RETROFIT International Symposium concluded with some excellent discussions on retrofitting the historic environment; growth, risk, and the development industry; and governance and regulation.

Look out for outputs on our website in due course.

After getting out and about the city, participants at the URBAN RETROFIT International Symposium got straight back into detailed discussions about design-aware retrofit, the density question, and scaling up retrofit initiatives.

It was an early start this morning for participants at the URBAN RETROFIT International Symposium, with four parallel walking tours around different areas of Glasgow - Govan, Laurieston, Dundashill, and the Avenues. Thanks to everyone who helped to organise the tours!

Tonight's provocative lecture by Prof Yvonne Rydin on post-growth got the audience thinking about different ways to think about the pervasive "growth economy". This stimulated a wealth of reflective commentary and ideas about the future of planning and urban retrofit.

Discussions continued at the URBAN RETROFIT International Symposium this afternoon, with a focus on communities, streets, public spaces, and the international experience including examples from Australia, Canada, Colombia, Europe, South Africa & The USA!

Over the next two days, the URBAN RETROFIT team and partners will participate in a series of parallel sessions and study tours.

Underway now - some fantastic discussions on housing, climate, and planning, and a special session with reflections on and lessons from our recent Canada study tour!

The URBAN RETROFIT International Symposium is off to a great start in Glasgow, with participants from 5 continents!

We kicked things off with the launch of our first major output- a systematic international evidence review- now available online.

urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/publications/

Urban Retrofit and the Growth Conundrum: Housebuilding under Labour’s Growth Agenda - Urban Retrofit Labour’s commitment to deliver 1.5 million new homes over the next Parliament (approximately 300,000 per annum) represents a decisive intervention in national housing policy. Achieving this scale of d...

In this blog, Dr Sarah Payne argues that Labour’s growth agenda risks sidelining urban retrofit in favour of faster greenfield builds. Without clear support, retrofit may lose out to easier, less sustainable options.

urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/urban-retrof...

Join us for a public lecture by Prof Yvonne Rydin (UCL) on her new book Planning Without Growth - exploring how planning systems can adapt to post-growth futures.

🗓️ 8 September 📍 The Social Hub Glasgow

Followed by a panel discussion + drinks.

🔗 urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/event/planni...

Places, people, and possibilities of urban retrofit  - Urban Retrofit Urban Retrofit Research Associate and urban design researcher Dr Jingyi Zhu reflects on the possibilities of urban retrofit and the inspiration she gained from the project study tour of Canadian […]

In this blog, Dr Jingyi Zhu reflects on the possibilities of urban retrofit and the inspiration she gained from the project study tour of Canadian cities urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/places-peopl...

Bridging the Implementation Gap: Lessons from Milton Parc and Beyond  - Urban Retrofit Urban Retrofit Research Associate, Dr Ying Wang, considers the challenges associated with delivering urban retrofit outcomes in the built environment and what lessons might be drawn from the project v...

In this blog, Dr Ying Wang considers the challenges associated with delivering urban retrofit outcomes and what lessons might be drawn from some of the projects visited on the recent Urban Retrofit Study Tour of Canadian cities urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/bridging-the...

It was great to meet you, too, Jason. Thanks for giving us your time!

Planning for affordable housing – and why the tenacity and skills of planners on-the-ground is a crucial piece of the urban retrofit puzzle  - Urban Retrofit Dermot O’Kane, Planning Manager (Plans and Policy) at Belfast City Council, one of Urban Retrofit’s local authority partners, reflects on affordable housing delivery in Toronto and Montreal and the le...

In this blog, Dermot O’Kane, Planning Manager at Belfast City Council, reflects on affordable housing delivery in Toronto and Montreal and the lessons that might be drawn for planners in UK cities urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/planning-for...

On the morning of the second day of Urban Retrofit’s Canadian study tour we visited a series of build-to-rent office to residential adaptive reuse projects in Halifax and Dartmouth being developed by place-focused developer Sidewalk RED.

Organised by project team members Jeff Biggar and Graeme Stewart-Robertson from Dalhousie University, our first stop was Halifax where Kyle Miller from Build Nova Scotia gave us a fascinating tour of small and medium sized interventions that have transformed the city’s waterfont.

Urban Retrofit’s Canada study tour is well underway. We've been learning from retrofit, reuse and regeneration projects in Halifax, Montreal and Toronto — from waterfront interventions to tower retrofits and green laneways.

URBAN RETROFIT: Roundtable Discussion on Post-growth Planning Join us at UCL on the evening of May 7 in Bentham House (UCL) for a discussion on post-growth planning.

Is growth the problem? Join us on May 7 at UCL for an evening roundtable on post-growth planning with Dr Dan Durrant, Anna Pagani & Lucía Cerrada Morato.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/urban-retr...

Urban retrofit and the Government’s planning agenda for growth: compatible or contradictory? - Urban Retrofit Associate Professor Hannah Hickman (UWE Bristol) critiques the Labour Government’s narrow focus on economic growth in planning reform, arguing for a broader narrative that prioritises urban retrofit a...

Labour's planning reform agenda fixates on growth, but at what cost?

urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/urban-retrofit-and-the-governments-planning-agenda-for-growth-compatible-or-contradictory/

Starmer’s plan to ‘build baby build’ risks more American-style car-dominated sprawl Developers will always choose low-density suburbs at the edge of cities over more environmental alternatives.

🏗️🌍 Labour’s housing push risks more sprawl and car dependency. @profjtwhite.bsky.social and Andy Inch ask whether we can retrofit cities for a greener future instead. 🚶‍♂️🚲

theconversation.com/starmers-pla...

Husniya Kedr Denur

We are delighted to welcome Husniya Kedr Denur to the project team. Husniya is committed to exploring how communities can adapt and thrive in the face of climate challenges through innovative and inclusive urban solutions.

urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/project-team...

Picture of Graeme

We are excited to welcome Graeme Stewart-Robertson to the project team. Graeme is an environmental geographer and policy researcher based in Atlantic Canada, specialising in climate adaptation and sustainable development.

urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/project-team...

Dr Ying Wang

We are excited to welcome Dr Ying Wang to the project team. Her research revolves around two interrelated themes: urban regeneration and approaches to address ‘wicked’ urban problems.

urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/project-team...

Dr Jingyi Zhu

We are excited to welcome Dr Jingyi Zhu to the project team. Jingyi joins as a Research Associate, bringing expertise in urban planning, design, and governance. Her research explores public space, place quality, and how people engage with cities.

urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/project-team...

YouTube video by UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence Urban Retrofit: About

The built environment contributes 25% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.

To meet net zero targets, we need to retrofit our cities—not just buildings, but entire urban areas.

Find out more about Urban Retrofit from
@profjtwhite.bsky.social and Dr Phil O'Brien.

youtu.be/v-M5pFghpAs

@dalhousieu.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social @sheffielduni.bsky.social @uwebristolofficial.bsky.social @cardiffuni.bsky.social Ulster University

Urban retrofitting – which seeks to improve what already exists rather than start again – has the potential to kick-start wider interventions that improve sustainability, increase resilience, and achieve efficiencies.

"What does it all mean? 🌍🏙️

@profjtwhite.bsky.social explores the definitions of retrofit and net zero in our first blog.

🔗 urbanretrofit.ac.uk/what-does-it...

Today we’ve launched our new @urbanretrofit.bsky.social website and invite you to check it out. We are just getting started and there will be more to share as our project develops but do follow us on this exciting research journey.

We are delighted to announce that the website for Urban Retrofit is now live.

Led by @profjtwhite.bsky.social and a team of researchers from institutions across the world, this ESRC-funded project is part of a £9.5m investment into place-based approaches to net-zero living.

🔗 urbanretrofit.ac.uk