As the built environment moves towards a more sustainable future, Futurebuild 2025, taking place from 4-6 March at ExCeL London, is embracing the theme of Impact, underscoring the event’s dedication to innovation, collaboration and meaningful action. A hub for sustainability and cutting-edge solutions, the event is a crucial opportunity for professionals involved with social housing and student accommodation to explore the latest strategies, technologies, and frameworks to meet evolving demands in residential construction.

Targeted Learning for Social Housing & Student Accommodation

Futurebuild’s knowledge programme spans across The Futurebuild Arena, The National Retrofit Conference & Expo, and five Impact Stages covering Buildings, Energy, Materials, Placemaking and FutureX Digital Disruptors, each curated to address core challenges and opportunities in the construction industry.

Buildings Impact Stage sponsored by HG Matthews: Visitors can delve into the Future Homes Standard, modular construction, and net-zero building strategies. Panels from partners such as Passivhaus Trust, BRE, and UKGBC, will highlight real-world applications of Passivhaus standards, safety in building design, and emerging trends in lighting and acoustics.

Materials Impact Stage sponsored by Aggregate Industries: Learn from leaders at organisations such as Sustainable Supply Chain School and Built by Nature about materials passports, supply chain transparency, and how circular economy principles are reshaping social housing and student accommodation projects.

Energy Impact Stage sponsored by Kensa: With decarbonisation a priority, this stage focuses on renewable energy integration, energy-efficient heating solutions, and how to navigate upcoming regulations. Panels involving partners such as Energy Saving Trust,
CIBSE, and the Sustainable Energy Solution will address the role of heat pumps, solar technologies, and thermal storage in creating low-energy residential buildings.

Placemaking Impact Stage: Beyond homes, this stage tackles water management, biodiversity, and sustainable transport. Sessions from partners such as Urban Design Group, Landscape Institute and RSPB, will aim to equip housebuilders with tools to help build vibrant, connected communities that align with sustainability goals.

FutureX Digital Disruptors Impact Stage sponsored by One Click LCA: Explore how construction technology can be used intentionally to benefit both society and the environment.

The Futurebuild Arena

Futurebuild is celebrating its 20th year making an impact on the built environment. The Futurebuild Arena sessions will explore how housebuilders and others in the built and natural environments can make an impact and help achieve a transition in the industry. The focus will be on creating a vibrant economy that works within planetary boundaries, promotes social justice, and ensures fair resource use.

The Arena’s programme will focus on three overarching themes: Putting Circularity and Reuse at the Heart of Living and Working, Sustainability, Social Justice and Transition, and Making it Happen. Each session will examine where we need to be in 12 months, five years, and 10 years time, proving that now is the time for decisive action, with no more delays.

The National Retrofit Conference & Expo

The National Retrofit Conference, co-located with Futurebuild, is a must-visit. Sponsored by Sustainable Building Services, it serves as an event for professionals focused on achieving net-zero goals through retrofitting. The conference spans across three days, with content curated from Retrofit Academy CIC across the first two days and the National Retrofit Hub on the third. Its programme will focus on scaling the ambition, delivering the promise of retrofitting, and regenerating our cities and regions at their core.

The National Retrofit Expo, new for 2025, will expand on the conference and feature a dedicated exhibition of innovative products, solutions, and technologies that tackle retrofit challenges and deliver impactful projects. It will include leading exhibitors such as Parity Projects, E.ON, Corksol, Trustmark, q-bot and many more.

Don’t miss The Big Retrofit Challenge in partnership with NHDG and Innovate UK, an exciting competition with a live finale where we will announce the six finalists and showcase their pioneering ideas for decarbonising existing homes.

The Innovation Trail

Explore the Innovation Trail, featuring innovation partners like Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation, Heidelberg Materials UK, and SDS. This curated journey connects visitors with innovations that support net-zero housing, from eco-friendly building materials to smart energy systems – you saw it here first.

Futurebuild 2025 offers housebuilders the chance to engage with industry peers, from policymakers to technology providers, building connections that can drive residential innovation. It will also provide the chance to explore first-hand exhibitors’ products and technologies that are solving pressing challenges like carbon reduction, waste minimisation and affordability in social housing and student accommodation.

Martin Hurn, event director at Futurebuild, eagerly anticipates the event: “Our mission at Futurebuild 2025 is to drive meaningful change in the built environment. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and sustainability, those in the construction industry will gain critical insights to meet today’s housing demands while building for tomorrow.”

Don’t miss out on Futurebuild 2025. As social housing provideers navigate the dual pressures of housing demand and climate commitments, Futurebuild provides a platform for knowledge, solutions and inspiration. Whether exploring decarbonisation strategies, tackling affordability challenges, or engaging with future-ready materials, Futurebuild’s 2025 edition is the ultimate guide to shaping the future of housing.

Join the movement and make your impact!

Article supplied by Futurebuild