Recent News

Recent headlines

Historic England have published a statement on its ‘Position on Climate Change and Sustainability’. This is an important publication as it will help to quash any comments about heritage organisations just wishing to preserve the status quo in favour of traditional buildings over the issue of climate change. It also raises the really important factor of embodied carbon within the existing estate which represents a major carbon sink in the armoury against carbon emissions. 

  • Historic England
  • July 2020

Leeds Beckett University has a new opening for a funded PhD. The doctorate will work in the development and validation of a management tool to achieve the most appropriate and cost-effective solutions to moisture imbalance in dwellings. This research will aim to identify the most appropriate solutions and quantify the benefits from finding better ways to treat current damp issues and to help plan the investment strategy to avoid future mould and moisture problems across the housing association People for Places national estate.

  • Leeds Beckett Uni
  • 31st August 2020

Circular economy grant from Zero Waste Scotland goes to insulation manufacturer IndiNature, which makes ‘carbon negative’ insulation.

  • Scottish Housing News
  • 19th August 2020

Welsh Government publishes Building Better Places: The Planning System Delivering Resilient and Brighter Futures. 

The document sets out the Welsh Government’s planning policy priorities to assist in taking action in the recovery period after the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. The planning system should be centre stage in the consideration of built and natural environment issues that have arisen from this situation.

Link is a PDF file.

  • Welsh Government
  • 16th July 2020

Historic England looking for a new Head of Historic Building Climate Change Adaptation

  • Historic England
  • Closing 9th Sept

Welsh Government launch Optimised Retrofit round of funding

  • Welsh Government
  • 19 August 2020

The STBA welcomes this exciting round of IHP funding for OR as it is underpinned by the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act that embeds holistic thinking and approaches into the retrofit agenda.

RICS call for 5% VAT rating on refurbishment within their position paper as embodied energy becomes more of an issue in the construction industry

  • RICS
  • 19 May 2020

The STBA absolutely supports the call for reduced VAT on maintenance, repairs and retrofit. Embodied carbon within the existing stock is a valuable asset and we should encourage people to look after their homes so that they last longer and retain this carbon within their structures.

Trustmark registration to be a necessary element of a quality drive with the UK Green Recovery

The STBA is pleased to see some element of quality control over this process, however the system should be driven by the PAS2035 process, not just PAS2030 registered contractors / installers. Understanding the building is a pre-requisite for designing a quality assured retrofit.

Passive House Trust launch ‘Demystifying Airtightness’

  • PHT
  • June 2020

STBA Comments