Q&A with Derrick Hadeed, Senior Director, ECD Architects
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Why is it important that the UK’s property, planning and sustainability sectors come together at FOOTPRINT+?
Sustainability is a holistic challenge that needs construction design and politics to engage together to address climate change targets. Our current challenges are public finance constraints and geo-political eruptions – i.e. Ukraine, the Middle East, Brexit, etc – so the UK needs a collective and collaborative approach to this challenge to push us forward. No sector can do this on its own.
What did you hear about / experience at our last year’s event which has made you want to come back?
FOOTPRINT+ is a growing event where industry professionals and sustainability influencers can get together, exchange ideas and push the climate change agenda for the better.
A good place to address the UK retrofit challenge with practices that have current and relevant experience.
When you attend FOOTPRINT+ in May 2024 what will you be sharing with conference delegates, policy makers, your partners, and your industry peers?
We (ECD Architects) are currently working on the retrofit of around 8000 social homes across the country at various stages and to differing depths. This gives us an excellent and unique view of the challenges of retrofitting at scale. So, we will be sharing some of the innovations we have made based on our experience of setbacks during the process.
What are you looking to get out of the FOOTPRINT+ event?
Strengthening current relationships and developing new partnerships through which we can continue to improve the delivery of sustainable projects and reduce energy poverty. Whilst ECD is leading the progress of retrofitting residential at scale, we are now being asked more and more for the delivery of PAS2038, so it will be interesting to see what others are doing.