Urban Retrofit
@urbanretrofit.bsky.social
Scaling up place-based adaptations to the built environment through planning and development systems.
urbanretrofit.ac.uk
urbanretrofit.ac.uk
Reflections from @profjtwhite.bsky.social and Assoc. Prof Hannah Hickman who recently attended #SBE25 in Trondheim, Norway. Read more: urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/counting-car...
Counting carbon, crossing boundaries, navigating ice - Urban Retrofit
In this blog, Associate Prof Hannah Hickman and Prof James White reflect on their recent trip to Trondheim, Norway for the Sustainable Built Environment conference
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk
December 4, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Reflections from @profjtwhite.bsky.social and Assoc. Prof Hannah Hickman who recently attended #SBE25 in Trondheim, Norway. Read more: urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/counting-car...
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.
Look out for outputs on our website in due course.
September 9, 2025 at 5:02 PM
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.
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.
September 9, 2025 at 4:47 PM
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!
September 9, 2025 at 4:40 PM
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.
September 8, 2025 at 6:22 PM
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!
September 8, 2025 at 6:04 PM
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!
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!
September 8, 2025 at 11:07 AM
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!
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/
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/
September 8, 2025 at 10:58 AM
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/
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/
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...
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/urban-retrof...
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...
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk
August 8, 2025 at 2:31 PM
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...
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...
🗓️ 8 September 📍 The Social Hub Glasgow
Followed by a panel discussion + drinks.
🔗 urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/event/planni...
August 3, 2025 at 4:38 PM
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...
🗓️ 8 September 📍 The Social Hub Glasgow
Followed by a panel discussion + drinks.
🔗 urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/event/planni...
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...
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 […]
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk
July 14, 2025 at 4:02 PM
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...
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...
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...
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk
June 30, 2025 at 4:25 PM
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...
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...
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...
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk
June 20, 2025 at 11:14 AM
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.
June 6, 2025 at 3:41 PM
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.
June 6, 2025 at 3:41 PM
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.
June 6, 2025 at 12:27 PM
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.
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...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/urban-retr...
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.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
May 2, 2025 at 3:16 PM
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...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/urban-retr...
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/
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/urban-retrofit-and-the-governments-planning-agenda-for-growth-compatible-or-contradictory/
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...
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk
March 26, 2025 at 3:19 PM
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/
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/urban-retrofit-and-the-governments-planning-agenda-for-growth-compatible-or-contradictory/
🏗️🌍 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...
theconversation.com/starmers-pla...
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.
theconversation.com
March 20, 2025 at 3:36 PM
🏗️🌍 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...
theconversation.com/starmers-pla...
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...
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/project-team...
March 5, 2025 at 3:46 PM
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...
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/project-team...
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...
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/project-team...
February 26, 2025 at 4:22 PM
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...
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/project-team...
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...
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/project-team...
February 20, 2025 at 3:43 PM
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...
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/project-team...
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...
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/project-team...
February 17, 2025 at 9:10 AM
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...
urbanretrofit.housingevidence.ac.uk/project-team...
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
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
Urban Retrofit: About
YouTube video by UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence
youtu.be
February 12, 2025 at 11:36 AM
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
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
"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...
@profjtwhite.bsky.social explores the definitions of retrofit and net zero in our first blog.
🔗 urbanretrofit.ac.uk/what-does-it...
January 31, 2025 at 9:56 AM
"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...
@profjtwhite.bsky.social explores the definitions of retrofit and net zero in our first blog.
🔗 urbanretrofit.ac.uk/what-does-it...