The government has promised to deliver 1.5 million new homes to tackle the UK’s entrenched housing crisis. It’s right that the government is looking to ensure everyone can access high quality, affordable homes. But it is equally important that housebuilding targets are achieved while staying on track to lower emissions and stay within legally binding carbon budgets.

Construction is a major contributor to climate change, but with government help, this could change, and the industry could adopt approaches that could deliver the housing the country needs without breaking the carbon budget.

On Wednesday 3 September 2025, Green Alliance and the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), along with experts from the world of construction, planning and housing, discussed how government intervention could deliver real change to construction practices, while delivering the high quality homes the country needs.

Panellists

• Chair: Libby Peake, head of resource policy, Green Alliance

• Will Arnold, head of climate action, IStructE

• Cressida Curtis, head of sustainability, Wates

• Aidan Nyman, principal policy officer, Westminster City Council

• Dr Beth Stratford, honorary research fellow, UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose