From Initiative to Action: lessons form the journey to net zero through retrofit for building regenerative cities

Boyd, Philippa, Larsen, Graeme D and Singh, Ankit (2025) From Initiative to Action: lessons form the journey to net zero through retrofit for building regenerative cities. In: 41st ARCOM Conference, 1-3rd September 2025, Dundee. (In Press)

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Abstract

The transformative changes required to make cities regenerative are like those encountered in the drive to net zero. Investor-side stakeholders are challenged by the emerging and contested discourse of what developing regenerative cities means for their businesses. Whilst challenges may be conceptualised differently, central for investors is the impact of change on traditional investment models. This research draws on the net zero through retrofit movement to inform the development of frameworks facilitating investment decisions and rationales for regenerative cities. Aligning with socio-technical perspectives, the research mobilises a case study of a specialist sustainability consultancy, focused on building performance. Informed by co-creation, open coding of semi-structured interviews and archive documents is used to examine key challenges. Findings suggest confused rationales and vocabularies between investor-side and operator-side stakeholders, and conflicts between development and investment which cut across debates around the transition to net zero and the development of regenerative cities. These findings underscore the need to develop frameworks which translate sustainable actions and plans into investment rationales to support regenerative cities.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Sustainable Development Goals:	Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Keywords:	investment framework, Net Zero, regenerative cities, retrofit, sustainability
Divisions:	School of the Built Environment > Research
Depositing User:	Dr Pippa Boyd
Date Deposited:	12 Sep 2025 09:09
Last Modified:	12 Sep 2025 09:09
URI:	https://ube.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/188

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