September’s AECB environmental construction conference seeks to spark debate among industry experts

The Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) will host its flagship annual conference on Friday 12th September 2025 in the Enterprise Centre at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, bringing together voices in sustainable construction for a day dedicated to "Environment Conscious Construction: Case Studies and Conversations."

The conference promises to deliver what delegates have consistently requested: more time for networking and meaningful conversations between industry professionals. Responding to this feedback, organisers restructured this year’s programme to maximise interaction opportunities and added an optional evening meal to extend networking beyond the formal sessions.

The day will showcase practical approaches to creating buildings that place environmental considerations at their core whilst maintaining design excellence and ensuring occupant health and comfort. From heritage retrofit challenges to cutting-edge passive house education buildings, the speaker lineup represents a cross-section of the industry's most innovative practitioners.

Leading the morning session, Piers Sadler from Delta Q will present a comprehensive CarbonLite case study focusing on the Hazelmead Housing Development. Sadler, who transitioned from environmental science to specialise in passive house design after earning his Masters in Sustainable Building from Oxford Brookes University, brings over a decade of low-energy building expertise to his presentation.

Laura Baron, Head of Sustainability at Purcell, will address the complex challenges of heritage retrofit. Baron, who authored the Heritage Building Retrofit Toolkit in partnership with the City of London Corporation, sits on the Steering Group of Architects Declare and has contributed to multiple industry initiatives including the Low Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI).

The programme continues with Ann-Marie Fallon from Architype discussing passive house education buildings across the UK. As an associate director and passive house designer, Fallon has overseen many of Britain’s passive house building firsts and led the growth of Architype's Scotland studio from three to over thirty professionals. Her presentation will draw on her role in developing unique methodologies for de-carbonising large estates.

The afternoon session features Lois Hurst from Lune Retrofit, whose recent PhD explored the embodied and life cycle impacts of domestic retrofit. Her research, published in peer-reviewed articles, provides critical insights for robust retrofit decision-making. As a Trustee with Lune Valley Community Land Trust, she contributed to developing twenty affordable passive house homes completed in 2023.

James York from Collective Architecture will examine "Retrofitting with Purpose: A People-First Approach to Brutalist Tower Blocks," bringing his 18 years of experience as a certified passive house designer and Principal Energy Consultant. His presentation will explore collaborative, low-carbon design strategies that balance performance with affordability and long-term value.

Closing the formal presentations, Fran Bradshaw from Anne Thorne Architects will discuss collaborative approaches to achieving high-quality buildings. Her unique Norfolk straw-bale home, designed to meet passive house standards, demonstrates the successful integration of high-performance technologies with natural materials.

The conference will also feature panel discussions on AECB CarbonLite Training and a "Question Time" session allowing delegates to engage directly with speakers. A highlight for many will be the building tour of the Enterprise Centre itself, designed to passive house standard by Architype, offering delegates the opportunity to experience the principles discussed in practice.

Conference tickets start from £45+VAT for students, £150+VAT for AECB members, and £180+VAT for non-members. Attendees will earn 9 CPD points and 8 PHI points.

To see full programme details and book tickets visit: https://aecb.net/aecb-2025-annual-conference/