Thursday 10th July 2025, 17:30-19:30, London
Join us for the launch event of our new best practice guide to ‘Water Efficiency and Reuse in Housing’, funded by the Enabling Water Smart Communities (EWSC) project and the UK Water Efficiency Collaborative Fund.
About the guidance
The challenge of water availability is well documented and the UK faces a potential major water deficit. Many areas are water stressed and some local authorities now require developers to demonstrate and robustly evidence a move towards ‘water neutrality’.
The Future Homes Hub’s ‘Water Ready‘ report (April 2024) for DEFRA proposes a roadmap towards water efficient housing, setting out proposed actions for government and industry to take to achieve water usage of 90 litres per person per day (LPPPD) in new homes by 2035.
However, there are a number of progressive organisations within industry who want to move faster, and water companies are likely to encourage this through their Environmental Incentives programmes. There is currently however a knowledge gap in regard to concise and current guidance available as to how to deliver this.
This project aims to provide forward-thinking housing developers, architects, contractors and their supply chains with the practical guidance and model specifications required to enable them to deliver housing developments which meet best practice water efficiency targets and reuse outcomes, now, and in advance of proposed roadmap timescales.
What’s in the guidance?
- Introduction – Why the guide is needed and what is the policy context.
- Succinct case studies addressing water reduction, re-use and off-setting – covering a wide mix of technologies towards water neutrality including water efficient fittings, rainwater harvesting, storm water re-use, grey water recycling, and smart metering/monitoring.
- Model specifications for new homes to meet specific water efficiency/reuse targets – which could be used in employers requirements or design briefs.
- Recommendations for developers in water stressed areas.
- Definitions and links to further reading.
Water stories:
- Let’s Get Water Smart – Nicci Russell, CEO, Waterwise
- The half-a-second shower – Rory Olcayto, writer and critic, Pollard Thomas Edwards
- The Ick factor – Cat Moncrieff, head of policy and engagement, CIWEM
- The water saving game – Gareth Thomas, commercial and communications director, Watergate
Who is involved?
The guidance has been commissioned by the Good Homes Alliance, thanks to funding from the:
- Enabling Water Smart Communities (EWSC) project, a landmark innovation project exploring the relationship between integrated water management, community engagement & practices, and housing development to unlock new opportunities for cross-sector delivery and stewardship.
- UK Water Efficiency Collaborative Fund, a voluntary initiative run by the water industry in partnership with Waterwise, supporting projects which “advance the cause of water efficiency”.
Authors:
- Tom Dollard (Lead author), Sustainability and Innovation lead and a partner at award-winning architects Pollard Thomas Edwards. Tom is author of the best-selling book for RIBA, ‘Designed to Perform: An illustrated guide to delivering energy efficient homes’ and co-authored the Good Homes Alliance’s recent shading guidance.
- Rory Olcayto (Co-author and editor), Writer and Critic at Pollard Thomas Edwards. Previous roles include editor of The Architects’ Journal and chief executive of Open City.
Editorial support
- Cath Hassell (Model specification), Director of ech2o and an expert in sustainable water strategies and low-carbon technologies. Cath regularly delivers training workshops to a wide range of audiences, from school pupils to construction professionals. Author of Rainwater Harvesting and Greywater Recycling Manual – A training manual for plumbers by BPEC.
- Saffron Corcoran (Case studies), Environmental Engineer Graduate at Thames Water.
- Tim Metcalfe (Design), Partner ‑ Communications at Pollard Thomas Edwards. Tim is responsible for PTE’s communications strategy and has led on graphic design for GHA’s previous guide on shading.
- Richard Broad (Project manager), Projects & Comms Manager at Good Homes Alliance and a Director of the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP).
Steering group
George Warren, Anglian Water; Lutz Johnen, Aquality; Emma Davies, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service; Nancy Kimberley, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service; Katie Smith, Defra; Kirsten Smith, Defra; Laura Grant, Defra; Jennifer Rooney, ECD Architects; Adam Derham, Essex City Council; John Slaughter, Future Homes Hub; Julian Brooks, Good Homes Alliance; Clare Devine, Horsham District Council; Amanda Stanley, Introba; Andrea Jung, Islington Council; Paul Treharne, Raven Housing Trust; Richard Young, SNG; Josie Cadwallader-Hughes, Thakeham Homes (now at The Crown Estate); Andrew Tucker, Thames Water; Craig Boorman, Thames Water; Richard Pender, TOWN (now at SNRG); Kemi Adeyeye, University of Bath; Claire Hoolohan, University of Manchester; Gareth Thomas, Watergate; Nathan Richardson, Waterwise Kruti Patel, Water UK.
Outline agenda
- 17:00 Registration and welcome drink
- 17:30 Welcome to the event – Rory Olcayto, Pollard Thomas Edwards and Richard Broad, Good Homes Alliance
- 17:35 Keynote address – TBC
- 17:45 Presentation of the guide – Tom Dollard, Pollard Thomas Edwards
- 18:00 Q&A
- 18:15 Drinks and networking
- 19:30 Close
Key details
- Date: Thursday 10th July 2025
- Time: 17:30-19:30 (Registration from 17:00)
- Location: Pollard Thomas Edwards, Diespeker Wharf, 38 Graham Street, London, N1 8JX
- Cost: Free to attend, registration essential