University of the Built Environment
A monthly exploration into the world of sustainability in the built environment with commentary and input from University of the Built Environment’s Vice Chancellor and academics.
By Linda Serck Britain’s homes and high streets were designed to keep heat in, now we have to learn to keep it out. Following the June 2026 heatwave, University of…
By Linda Serck How long should a house last? According to one striking calculation cited by Professor Ashley Wheaton, the answer could be around a millennium. Here we examine what…
Hurst Street, Birmingham By Linda Serck Today, places such as Soho, Canal Street and Kemptown are celebrated cultural LGBTQ+ landmarks. Yet their origins lie in a hidden geography of social exclusion, secrecy and anonymity. What…
As a public inquiry weighs up a disputed route across the Berkshire estate owned by Pippa Middleton Matthews and her husband James Matthews, the case is shining a light on one of…
By Claire Hookham MBA Programme Lead There is a fascinating shift happening in global real estate right now. For years, the built environment was often portrayed as conservative, slow-moving, and…
By Linda Serck When West Berkshire Council announced it would end Newbury’s controversial evening pedestrianisation trial two months early after strong public opposition, it reignited a wider national debate about…
At the recent RICS Building Surveying Conference, Nicola Allen, Head of School – Construction, Surveying and Engineering, participated in a panel discussion on 'Strengthening Client Communication and Reporting'. Drawing on…
By Claire Hookham MBA Programme Lead Disruption has become one of those management words that is simultaneously overused and misunderstood. Every week, another organisation claims to be 'disrupting' an industry.…
When asked to think of a library, the traditional image of dusty tomes, hushed rooms and towering shelves might spring to mind. At the University of the Built Environment, our…
Not every change on a construction site grabs headlines. Some of the most influential technologies operate in the background, improving safety, planning and delivery without altering what the public sees.…
By Professor Samer Bagaeen Head of the School of Town Planning The ‘Inside Housing: Build More Homes’ summit in London offered a timely opportunity to reflect on the current state…
By Linda Serck Mark Farmer is not one for nominative determinism, where your name subconsciously decides your career path. Far removed from agriculture, he has spent 35 years in the…
