Planning Conference on ‘Net Zero Homes. Can Dorset Do It?’, 4 June 2025

Thank you to everyone who joined our conference on 4th June 2025. The links to individual presentations are included in the Programme & Timetable below. The recordings have been adding to the Dorset CPRE YouTube channel , six in total. Rupert Hardy, North Dorset CPRE Chair, wrote a very good two page article ‘Can Dorset do it?’ summarising the main points from the conference for the July edition of the Blackmore Vale Magazine.

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Carbon emissions from buildings contribute a massive 39% to global energy-related carbon emissions* through their construction, operation and maintenance. Those emissions are contributing to global warming and climate change. In 2023 the UK Government committed to achieve Net Zero by 2050, ensuring that greenhouse gas emissions equal those that are removed from the atmosphere. If this target is to be reached it is essential that changes are made so that all new buildings are designed and constructed with this in mind, so that they are Net Zero both in terms of their operational energy (energy consumed through use – heating, lighting etc.) and embodied carbon (greenhouse gas emissions created through construction).

Homes designed to be Net Zero are not only good for the planet, but also good for their occupants, being constructed to higher standards and having lower running costs.

Can Dorset join the Leaders of the Zero Carbon Housing Revolution?

Our planning conference this year looked at how Dorset can rise to the challenge of ensuring that all new homes meet net zero. The event brought together industry experts, policy makers, developers and academics to discuss the latest innovations and challenges in zero carbon sustainable housing.

Through the conference we showcased pioneering examples of net zero development and aimed to answer the following questions:

• What measures are needed to ensure that Dorset’s new homes meet net zero?
• What policy changes and incentives are needed to support innovation in the industry?
• How must construction methods change to reduce carbon emissions?
• Can affordable homes be delivered that meet net zero?

The conference was opened by our President, former BBC Chief News Correspondent, Kate Adie, and chaired by Andrew Procter, Dorset CPRE Planning Group Chair.

Programme & Timetable – updated 5/6/25

Panel Debate

Following the presentations there was a roundtable debate on the issues raised, our speakers were joined by:

• Councillor Nick Ireland, Leader of Dorset Council and Cabinet Member for Performance, Climate and Safeguarding
• Councillor Kieron Wilson, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services at BCP Council
• Tim Crabtree, Director, Wessex Community Assets
• Mark Chivers, Co-founded Zero Carbon Dorset

Links to the recordings will be added as soon as possible.

Speakers Bios and Talks

Andrew Procter, Dorset CPRE Planning Group Chair
Andrew is a retired Chartered Surveyor and Management Consultant. He has worked in both public and private sectors with broad experience advising on valuation, property strategy, development and regeneration. He was a District Valuer in Bournemouth and North Surrey, the Director of Property Consulting at KPMG, the Managing Director of Consulting at Johnson Controls and the founder and Managing Director of Actium Consult.

Andrew’s talk, ‘Making the case for Zero Carbon in Dorset’ sets the scene, explaining why taking a pro-active approach to ensuring Dorset and BCP’s new homes meet Net Zero is so important and explore the opportunities available to become leaders in the delivery of Zero Carbon Housing.

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Dr Will Hawkins, Lecturer in Structural Engineering Design, Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems Team, University of Bath

Will is a lecturer in Structural Engineering Design at the University of Bath. He began his career with engineering consultants AKTII, designing buildings across London, before moving into research in 2015. During his PhD across Bath and Cambridge Universities, he designed, constructed and tested a novel thin-shell vaulted concrete floor system, demonstrating the potential for significant material and embodied carbon savings over existing technologies. His current research focuses on the structural engineer’s role in the decarbonisation of construction, with publications exploring life cycle assessment methods, testing of novel materials and structures, the future supply of zero-carbon materials, embodied carbon in policy making, optimisation of structural components, and the reuse, adaptation and extension of existing buildings.

Will’s talk, ‘Pioneering Net Zero Carbon Construction Planning Policy in B&NES’, looks at the impact of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s (B&NES) pioneering planning policies, introduced in 2023, which require new developments to achieve net zero operational energy and major developments to meet an embodied carbon target.  B&NES was the first council to introduce these policies.

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Sam Goss, Founding Director, Barefoot Architects Ltd

Sam is the founding director of Barefoot Architects, which was established in 2014. The practice is rooted in a shared commitment to sustainable, community-led design, with a particular focus on low-energy, low-impact architecture.  He has helped shape Barefoot’s work with cohousing and community-led housing across the South West, beginning with the Bridport Cohousing project. Since then, the practice has supported a wide range of groups to design homes that prioritise affordability, sustainability and strong social connection.

Sam and the team bring a collaborative, participatory approach to every project, believing that the best places are created when communities are closely involved in the design process. Sam continues to be motivated by the belief that architecture can truly transform the way people live, fostering communities that are connected, resilient, and sustainable. Sam’s talk, ‘Bridport Cohousing: A Place to Grow’, looks at the design of Bridport Cohousing, now named ‘Hazelmead’, a pioneering low-carbon housing development comprised of 53 net zero carbon affordable houses and flats – on land that was crowd-funded by members. The project was developed to address the critical shortage of affordable, sustainable and community oriented housing in Bridport.

Barefoot Architects have recently received several awards for this pioneering project, including The Pineapple Award for Healthy Homes 2025, RIBA Southwest and Wessex Award, and RIBA Southwest and Wessex Sustainability Award 2025.

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Ian Pritchett​​​​, Co‑Founder & Innovation Director, Greencore Homes

A physics graduate from Durham University with over 30 years’ experience in specialist construction (historic building repairs and eco-buildings), Ian has been pioneering low carbon buildings for the last 20 years. Greencore Homes was established in 2013. Ian was managing director of IJP Building Conservation Ltd from 1987 to 2007. This is where Ian developed his love of lime and other natural building materials. Ian was managing director, chairman and technical director of Lime Technology Ltd at various times between 2003 and 2013. During this time he pioneered the use of lime mortars in the new building sector and also developed hemp-lime building systems. Ian recently received the Chartered Institute of Building’s Sustainability Award.

Ian’s talk, ‘Delivering “better than Zero Carbon” Homes now!’ looks at how high performance low carbon homes can be delivered today and examine how buildings can be designed to go even further!

* World Green Building Council. Bringing embodied carbon up front.