Navigating retrofit challenges: Decarb, Social Value and Heritage Capital

Join Purcell at UKREiiF 2025 for an engaging event exploring the pressing challenges local authorities face in retrofitting the built environment.

The session will focus on strategies for achieving decarbonisation, enhancing social value, and unlocking the potential of heritage capital.

The expert panel will feature local authority representatives who will share their challenges and experiences, while industry specialists will provide practical guidance and innovative solutions to help local authorities meet ambitious sustainability and regeneration targets, as well as addressing policy and funding hurdles.

Don’t miss the chance to network and gain valuable insights from those shaping the future of our places.

Reserve your space here.

Find out more on our panellists:

Peter Hughes, Wigan Council
Peter has been liaising Wigan Council’s in-house team on the Haigh Hall Transformation Project for two years. Since November 2024, Peter has served as the Operations Director. The project involves a combination of £20 million Levelling Up funding and £4.6m National Lottery Heritage funding combined with a £24 million capital investment from Wigan Council to transform Wigan’s “Jewel in the Crown” Haigh Hall into a cultural destination of national significance.

James Kirby, English Heritage Trust
James is a building service engineer, providing building services engineering advice for more than 400 historic sites that are cared for by English Heritage. His role includes the provision of technical advice, condition surveys, asset management, planned preventative maintenance strategies, and standards development. James also leads efforts to decarbonize building service energy use and mitigate the impacts of climate change on the historic collection.

Laura Baron, Purcell
Laura is head of sustainability at Purcell the world’s leading heritage architecture firm. She is passionate about finding innovative solutions to adapting and conserving our built heritage, against the backdrop of the climate emergency. Laura authored the Heritage Building Retrofit Toolkit in partnership with the City of London Corporation, developing a comprehensive process for climate action in heritage settings. She is on the Steering Group of Architects Declare, and has contributed to multiple industry initiatives including the Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce, ACAN, LETI, and the NLA Conservation and Retrofit Expert Panel.

Ian Shaw, Max Fordham
A partner at Max Fordham, Ian is a hands-on building services engineer with extensive experience in heritage retrofit and sustainable design. Since establishing Max Fordham’s Manchester office in 2012, he has led a number of fascinating high-profile projects including the restoration and extension of the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, the Chethams Concert Hall, the Contact Theatre refurbishment.

Jo Bartle, Purcell
Jo is the Northern region public sector lead at Purcell, with extensive experience in heritage architecture, regeneration, and adaptive reuse across multiple sectors. Jo works closely with clients to develop strategic, sustainable solutions that balance conservation, community needs and financial viability. She plays a key role in guiding public sector clients though complex heritage projects, from securing funding to delivering long-term impactful transformations.