In this webinar we will discuss overcoming the non-technical barriers to retrofit at scale.
Why is scaling retrofit so difficult, even when we have knowledge and access to the architectural and technical solutions? Join GHA, with speakers Matthew Allcock and Chris Cakebread of Baily Garner and architect Marion Baeli.
While the sector has mastered the fabric and technical aspects behind low-energy upgrades, the real friction often lies elsewhere. Blockers to mass-scale retrofit include the complex, external frameworks surrounding insurance, warranties and compliance.
Join us for an essential discussion as we unpack retrofit barriers & solutions and take a deep dive into the non-technical challenges slowing down progress.
From navigating the complexities of PAS 2035 compliance to securing robust insurance and structural warranties, we will explore why these external factors stall projects – and, crucially, how we can fix them.
Key themes we will explore:
- The Compliance Conundrum: How PAS 2035 framework demands impact project timelines and scalability.
- The Risk & Reward Gap: Navigating insurance and warranty requirements that often struggle to keep pace with innovative retrofit methods.
- Systemic Blockers: Identifying the institutional and administrative hurdles that prevent good retrofit from scaling.
- Actionable Solutions: A collaborative look at the policy changes, industry shifts, and practical steps needed to clear the path forward.
Whether you are a social housing provider, a policy maker, a tier-one contractor, or a retrofit coordinator, this session will offer the chance to hear from experts and share your experiences and solutions to address the systemic changes required to unlock true scale.
Key details:
- Date: Thursday 12th Novemeber 2026
- Timings: 13:00-14:00
- Location: Online (Zoom)
- Costs: Free for GHA members, £20+VAT for non-members
Would you like free tickets to our webinars and discounted tickets for our in person events? Join the GHA!
Speakers:
- Matthew Allcock, Partner, Baily Garner
- Chris Cakebread, Retrofit Programme Manager, Baily Garner
- Marion Baeli, Principal, Retrofit & Adaptive Reuse, 10 Design
With thanks to Good Homes Alliance Leader Member Baily Garner for supporting our autumn retrofit series.
More about our speakers:
Matthew Allcock, MRICS, BA (Hons), PG Dip, CEnv, Partner at Baily Garner:
Matthew joined Baily Garner in August 2018 as a Clerk of Works/ Quality Control Inspector with experience in building control. Matthew is a Chartered Building Surveyor and Chartered Environmentalist specialising in retrofit. He is Baily Garner’s Retrofit Technical Lead and has facilitated technical workshops and away days for clients, alongside providing day-to-day specialist retrofit advice. Matthew has a passion for environmental matters and takes a keen interest in sustainable building practices and techniques. He won Retrofit Coordinator of the year at the 2025 Retrofit Academy Awards.
Chris Cakebread, Senior Retrofit Consultant at Baly Garner:
Chris is a Senior Retrofit Consultant at Baily Garner with over four years’ experience in retrofit delivery. A qualified DEA, Retrofit Assessor and Retrofit Coordinator, he specialises in PAS 2035-compliant programmes and has extensive experience supporting social housing providers to deliver successful retrofit projects at scale.
Marion Baeili Principal, Retrofit & Adaptive Reuse at 10 Design:
Marion is Principal, Sustainability Transformation at 10 Design. Specialising in the existing built environment, adaptive reuse and low energy , low carbon design, she brings in over 25 years of expertise on the design and delivery of large-scale, complex projects that span the whole spectrum of housing as well as office sectors.
She is a renowned author on low-energy design, recognised for her award-winning book on residential retrofits. Additionally, she is a government advisor on retrofit for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, contributes to the Westminster City Council’s Design Review Panel, serves as a frequent guest lecturer at several Universities (UCL, Westminster, Imperial College) sits on the board of the UK Passivhaus Trust and acts as an architecture award judge for the RIBA, the Architects’ Journal, CTBUH and Architecture Today.