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Our report, Innovation in Commercial Retrofit: A Live Project Demonstrator, details the first real-world application of the ‘Commercial Retrofit Innovation Map’ at No.1 Poultry, one of the City of London’s most recognisable buildings.

Despite significant heritage, spatial and commercial constraints of the Grade II* listed building, the report demonstrates how innovation can be embedded from the earliest stages of a retrofit project to deliver ambitious sustainability outcomes. This was achieved through the use of the Innovation Map, an interactive tool, alongside embedding an ‘innovation process’ to ensure the Map was applied diligently and early in the design process.

By cataloguing and organising the retrofit innovation landscape into specific interventions that a low carbon retrofit should consider, the Innovation Map enabled the project team to identify and specify 18 high-impact solutions. This includes an innovative airtightness system, advanced glazing options such as vacuum-insulated glass and a glass recycling scheme, and high-efficiency solar panels that could mean No. 1 Poultry has one of the highest efficiency solar arrays on any building in the UK.

The report sets out a practical ‘Innovation Process’ that encourages project teams to evaluate and engage with innovative technologies at the earliest stages of development, when decisions have the greatest influence on carbon outcomes, cost and performance.

Commercial buildings currently account for nearly a quarter of the built environment’s carbon footprint in the UK through the energy required to heat, power and operate them.

At the same time, the report highlights how growing regulatory requirements, rising energy costs, investors expectations and net zero commitments are increasing pressure on building owners to use ingenuity to drive the performance of existing assets.

Simon McWhirter, Chief Executive of the UK Green Building Council, said:

The UK can’t achieve a net zero built environment without dramatically improving the performance of its existing commercial building stock. This report demonstrates that innovation doesn’t need to be an afterthought.

Rather, by bringing innovative solutions into the decision-making process at the front end, project teams can unlock greater carbon savings, reduce risk and create better-performing buildings. This is all about driving a market change that simply delivers better outcomes – environmental and commercial – for all involved.”

Basil Demeroutis, Managing Partner, FORE Partnership, said:

No. 1 Poultry has shown that even highly constrained and historically significant buildings can become platforms for innovation. Indeed, by proving that innovation can happen even in the most highly constrained cases like No. 1 Poultry, we are proving that commercial retrofit can deliver both environmental and commercial value in every building, so long as sustainability and ingenuity are embedded from the outset.”

Building on the success of this initiative, UKGBC, Breakthrough Energy and FORE will continue to champion innovation-led retrofit across the built environment sector. The partners are seeking to work with more organisations that want to adopt and help develop the Innovation Map, expanding its use across live projects and strengthening the evidence base for innovative retrofit solutions. By creating a clearer pathway from emerging technologies to deployment, the initiative aims to help make innovation a standard part of commercial retrofit practice rather than the exception.

The Initiative

Introducing a new initiative that will transform the iconic One Poultry building into a live laboratory for innovative retrofit solutions.

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The post New report shows how innovation can help transform the UK’s existing commercial buildings appeared first on UKGBC.

For municipalities facing pressure to maximize infrastructure investments, provide lifestyle amenities, and support sustainability, Greensboro offers a compelling case study in what happens when these goals are pursued simultaneously. 

For decades, greenways were viewed primarily as recreational amenities—a nice addition to a park system proving residents a place to bike, gather, or take a weekend stroll. Today, however, cities are asking more of their public spaces: They want infrastructure that manages stormwater, supports climate resilience, encourages economic development, and helps residents move through their communities without relying exclusively on cars.

Biodiversity Net Gain is one of the most significant environmental reforms introduced in recent years, helping to ensure that development leaves nature in a measurably better state than before. At a time when the UK remains one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, maintaining the integrity of BNG is essential to restoring biodiversity, creating healthier places and providing greater certainty for industry and communities alike.

Brownfield regeneration has an essential role to play in delivering homes and economic growth, but weakening BNG requirements risks creating a false choice between development and nature recovery. Government should continue to support brownfield development, while ensuring all new development contributes positively to the restoration of nature and the creation of better places.

Policy & Advocacy

Since 2007, we have been bringing together some of the most influential leaders in politics, business, local authorities, civil service and NGOs to accelerate action for a green built environment.

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The post UKGBC responds to BNG Consultation on targeted exemptions for brownfield developments appeared first on UKGBC.