Home
Welcome to the Edge
Stimulating Interest in Built Environment Policy | Edge Debate
Latest Events and Publications
Recent debates:
(Scroll all the way down for our archive)
Other recent news:
the Edge has Guest edited Futurebuild News
(4-6th March 2024)
with articles on Five initiatives to achieve major change for people and the environment, climate change and nature recovery, BNG lessons, Labour’s planning reforms and how the circular economy can unlock prosperity
Read More
Proposed Competence Framework for Sustainability in the Built Environment
the Edge working with the CIC as part of its Climate Action Plan and the BSI is developing a Competence Framework Standard for sustainability in the built environment
A preliminary draft of the proposed Standard is being developed by a cross-industry Advisory Panel, but is also downloadable for comment here
Read more
the Edge biannual report
the Edge has published a report on its activities over the last two years - from July 2021 to July 2023
Upcoming debates
Browse our archive below
-
2024
- Aug 20, 2024 Edge Debate 172: Is Carbon Offsetting Cheating? - 11th September 2024, 18.00-19.30 Aug 20, 2024
- Jul 11, 2024 Edge Roundtable 173: Delivering a National Land Use Framework Jul 11, 2024
- Apr 29, 2024 Edge Roundtable 171 on an independent national built environment research organisation Apr 29, 2024
- Apr 25, 2024 Education for Change workshops (Edge Debates 167-170) Apr 25, 2024
- Mar 7, 2024 Futurebuild 2024 Day 3 - Sharing Visions for Change (Edge Debates 163 - 166) Mar 7, 2024
- Mar 6, 2024 Futurebuild 2024 Day 2 - Levers for Change (Edge Debates 158 - 162) Mar 6, 2024
- Mar 5, 2024 Futurebuild 2024: Day 1 - Pathways to Change (Edge Debates 154 - 157) Mar 5, 2024
-
2023
- Nov 16, 2023 Edge Roundtable 153 on the Costs and Impacts of Delays to Critical Infrastructure Nov 16, 2023
- Sep 20, 2023 Edge Roundtable 152 on Net Zero in Local Plans Sep 20, 2023
- Jul 13, 2023 Edge Debate 151 - Leadership for Sustainability in the Built Environment, 13th July 14.00-18.30 Woburn House WC1H 9HQ Jul 13, 2023
- Jun 26, 2023 Edge Debate 150 - Built environment policy: Implementation lessons Jun 26, 2023
- Mar 9, 2023 Futurebuild Day 3 - Taking Action (Edge Debates 145 - 149) Mar 9, 2023
- Mar 8, 2023 Futurebuild Day 2 - Changing (Edge Debates 141 - 144) Mar 8, 2023
- Mar 7, 2023 Futurebuild Day 1 - Looking Forward (Edge Debates 137 - 140) Mar 7, 2023
- Feb 27, 2023 Edge Debate 136 - Housing Adaptability Feb 27, 2023
-
2022
- Oct 17, 2022 Edge Debate 135 - Heritage & Net Zero: A wicked problem? Oct 17, 2022
- Oct 6, 2022 Edge Debate 134: Future Cities: What will City 2040 look like? Oct 6, 2022
- Jun 30, 2022 Edge Education Roundtable #133 Jun 30, 2022
- Jun 22, 2022 Edge debate #132 - Futurebuild Big Issues Seminar - The industry needs to undergo radical change to achieve net-zero and respond to the climate emergency – how should that happen? Jun 22, 2022
- May 18, 2022 Edge debate #131 - Futurebuild Big Issues Seminar - Climate change is a health emergency – so how should we respond? May 18, 2022
- Apr 27, 2022 Edge debate #130 - Futurebuild Big Issues Seminar - Materials must change Apr 27, 2022
- Mar 3, 2022 Edge Conversation #129 - The future of building design Mar 3, 2022
- Mar 3, 2022 Edge Debate #128 at Futurebuild - Living in a sustainable relationship with nature Mar 3, 2022
- Mar 3, 2022 Edge Debate #127 at Futurebuild - Supply, demand and retrofit – how we overcame all three Mar 3, 2022
- Mar 2, 2022 Edge Debate #126 at Futurebuild - Raising aspirations – leading by example Mar 2, 2022
- Mar 2, 2022 Edge Debate #125 at Futurebuild - What should ‘levelling up’ really mean? Mar 2, 2022
- Mar 2, 2022 Edge Debate #124 at Futurebuild - Creating infection resilient environments Mar 2, 2022
- Mar 2, 2022 Edge Debate #123 at Futurebuild - Making the shift to a resilient, zero carbon financial future Mar 2, 2022
- Mar 1, 2022 Edge Debate #122 at Futurebuild - Investing in people – education, skills and diversity Mar 1, 2022
- Mar 1, 2022 Edge Debate #121 at Futurebuild - Resource efficiency in a circular, post-Brexit economy. What is the plan? Mar 1, 2022
- Mar 1, 2022 Edge Debate #120 at Futurebuild - In a world where embodied carbon is regulated, what has changed? Mar 1, 2022
- Mar 1, 2022 Edge debate #119 at Futurebuild - Beyond COP26: our action programme Mar 1, 2022
-
2021
- Dec 10, 2021 – Dec 11, 2021 Edge Debate #118 - Exploring levelling up Roundtable Dec 10, 2021 – Dec 11, 2021
- Jul 15, 2021 Edge Insurance Roundtable #116 25th July 2021 Jul 15, 2021
- Mar 16, 2021 Edge Conversations - 114: The climate and ecological emergency - 16th March 2021 Mar 16, 2021
- Feb 16, 2021 Edge Debate 113: The future of the city 2040 Feb 16, 2021
- Feb 1, 2021 Edge Debate #112 - Zero carbon: Can UK built environment education deliver? Feb 1, 2021
-
2020
- Dec 8, 2020 Edge Debate #111: The Impact of Clean Air Dec 8, 2020
- Dec 1, 2020 Edge Debate #110: Clustering and Proximity Dec 1, 2020
- Nov 24, 2020 Edge Debate #109 - Public and Private Land Nov 24, 2020
- Nov 17, 2020 Edge Debate #108 - Equity & Exchange Nov 17, 2020
- Oct 29, 2020 Edge Debate #107 - Climate Justice: The Role of the Built Environment Oct 29, 2020
- Oct 27, 2020 Edge x Futurebuild: Learning from Disruption Webinar #5: Reality check – the energy, water, air and soil on which we depend Oct 27, 2020
- Oct 20, 2020 Edge x Futurebuild: Learning from Disruption Webinar #4: What is the future of work: WfH or WfO? Oct 20, 2020
- Oct 13, 2020 Edge x Futurebuild: Learning from Disruption Webinar #3: Cities must serve their citizens fully and vice versa Oct 13, 2020
- Oct 6, 2020 Edge x Futurebuild: Learning from Disruption Webinar #2: Infrastructure Action Plan – in place now! Oct 6, 2020
- Sep 30, 2020 Edge Debate 100 - Planning for the Future Roundtable Sep 30, 2020
- Sep 29, 2020 Edge x Futurebuild: Learning from Disruption Webinar #1: Systems change in the construction industry now! Sep 29, 2020
- May 6, 2020 ACAN Open Meeting @ Zoom May 6, 2020
- Apr 30, 2020 Edge Debate #99 - Futurebuild NOW Webinar 2: "Collaboration to achieve 100% Net Zero Carbon" Apr 30, 2020
- Apr 21, 2020 Edge Debate #98 - Futurebuild NOW Webinar #1: "Collaboration" Apr 21, 2020
- Mar 24, 2020 Edge Debate #97 Climate Responsive Urbanism #2 - Density: Curse or Cure? - Postponed Mar 24, 2020
- Jan 9, 2020 Edge Debate #96 Climate Responsive Urbanism Jan 9, 2020
-
2019
- Oct 16, 2019 Edge Debate #95 Trans or Trad? Oct 16, 2019
- Sep 19, 2019 Edge Expert Briefing Seminar (Debate #94): Net Zero Carbon Built Environment Sep 19, 2019
- Sep 17, 2019 Edge Debate #93 Housing Fit for Purpose? Putting POE into practice Sep 17, 2019
- Jun 20, 2019 The Edge Climate Action Roundtable Jun 20, 2019
- Mar 7, 2019 Edge @ Futurebuild 2019 #5 Rebel Leadership Mar 7, 2019
- Mar 6, 2019 Edge @ Futurebuild 2019 #4 The Housing Challenge Mar 6, 2019
- Mar 6, 2019 Edge @ Futurebuild 2019 #3 The Future Practice Challenge Mar 6, 2019
- Mar 6, 2019 Edge @ Futurebuild 2019 #2 The Environment Challenge Mar 6, 2019
- Mar 5, 2019 Edge @ Futurebuild 2019 #1 The Construction Leadership Challenge Mar 5, 2019
-
2018
- Nov 21, 2018 Edge Debate #87 The Oxford – Milton Keynes – Cambridge Growth Corridor Nov 21, 2018
- Nov 13, 2018 Edge Debate #86 Urban Form, Density & Microclimate Nov 13, 2018
- Oct 16, 2018 Edge Debate #85 Procuring for Whole Life Value Oct 16, 2018
- Oct 9, 2018 Edge Debate #84 Professionalism: Asset or Obstacle? Oct 9, 2018
- Jul 24, 2018 Edge Debate #83 Where Do We Stand? Jul 24, 2018
- Mar 19, 2018 Edge Debate #82 Spirit of Stevenage Mar 19, 2018
- Mar 8, 2018 Edge @ Ecobuild 2018 #4 Who Do We Build For? Ethics, Public Interest, and a Shared Code of Conduct Mar 8, 2018
- Mar 7, 2018 Edge @ Ecobuild 2018 #3 Construction Leadership and a Vision for the Future Mar 7, 2018
- Mar 7, 2018 Edge @ Ecobuild 2018 #2 Construction Quality in a Post-Grenfell World Mar 7, 2018
- Mar 7, 2018 Edge @ Ecobuild 2018 #1 How Can the Economics of Housing Serve the Needs of the People? Mar 7, 2018
-
2017
- Sep 25, 2017 Edge Debate #81 Can new players achieve a real increase in house building? Sep 25, 2017
- Feb 28, 2017 Edge Debate #80 Level 2 BIM: How's it been for you? Feb 28, 2017
- Jan 31, 2017 Edge Debate #79 Overheating in UK buildings – a disaster waiting to happen? Jan 31, 2017
- Jan 24, 2017 Edge Debate #78 Heritage Capital Jan 24, 2017
-
2016
- Nov 24, 2016 Edge Debate #76 Co-producing Neighbourhood Resilience, Sheffield Nov 24, 2016
- Nov 15, 2016 Edge Debate #75 'Generalist' vs 'Specialist' - Learning for a Sustainable Built Environment, LSBU Nov 15, 2016
- Nov 9, 2016 Edge Debate #77 Not invented here! R&D in Construction, Kings Cross Nov 9, 2016
- Oct 29, 2016 Our Past, Your Future: Promoting Artistic and Cultural Heritage Oct 29, 2016
- Oct 12, 2016 Collaboration for Change: Manchester Oct 12, 2016
- Sep 15, 2016 Collaboration for Change: Reading Sep 15, 2016
- Jul 11, 2016 Edge Debate #74 Building Better Places - Who Cares?, House of Lords Jul 11, 2016
- Jun 9, 2016 Edge Debate #73 EU Referendum - Environmental & Climate Change Consequences for the Built Environment Jun 9, 2016
- Apr 28, 2016 Collaboration for Change: Oxford Apr 28, 2016
- Mar 9, 2016 Edge Debate #72 Edge at Ecobuild 2016 Mar 9, 2016
- Feb 3, 2016 Edge Debate #71 Can Decentralisation Solve the Housing Crisis? Feb 3, 2016
-
2015
- Nov 10, 2015 Edge Debate #70 Does Built Environment Policy Work? And How Should Professionals Engage? Nov 10, 2015
- May 18, 2015 Launch of Collaboration for Change: The Edge Commission Report on the Future of Professionalism May 18, 2015
- Apr 27, 2015 Edge Debate #69 Using Cycling to Build a More Liveable City Apr 27, 2015
- Apr 20, 2015 Edge Debate #68 Educating the Industry Apr 20, 2015
- Mar 3, 2015 – Mar 5, 2015 Edge @ Ecobuild 2015 Mar 3, 2015 – Mar 5, 2015
- Feb 11, 2015 Edge Debate #67 Skyscrapers vs The Planet Feb 11, 2015
- Feb 9, 2015 Edge Debate #66 Is it a Problem that Practice and Research do not Connect? Feb 9, 2015
-
2014
- Nov 26, 2014 Edge Debate #65 What is the true ratio? Costs and value of construction Nov 26, 2014
- Oct 1, 2014 Edge Debate #64 Buildings for Humans: Are We in Danger of Value Engineering out the Wellbeing of Occupants? Oct 1, 2014
- May 22, 2014 Edge Debate #63 Edge Commission of Inquiry on Future Professionalism Session 4: Future Value May 22, 2014
- May 7, 2014 Edge Debate #62 Edge Commission of Inquiry on Future Professionalism Session 3: Society May 7, 2014
- Apr 23, 2014 Edge Debate #61 Edge Commission of Inquiry on Future Professionalism Session 2: The Economy Apr 23, 2014
- Mar 5, 2014 Edge Debate #60 Edge Commission of Inquiry on Future Professionalism Session 1: The Environment Mar 5, 2014
- Mar 4, 2014 Ecobuild 2014 - Can democracy deliver sustainability? Mar 4, 2014
-
2013
- Dec 9, 2013 Edge Debate #59 ‘BIM is the answer’, Cambridge Union, with IDBE Masters Programme Dec 9, 2013
- Oct 29, 2013 Happold Medal Lecture 2013 - Robin Nicholson Oct 29, 2013
- May 29, 2013 Edge Debate #58 Is creating an Institute of the Built Environment the answer to a ‘fragmented and ineffective’ industry? May 29, 2013
- Apr 24, 2013 Edge Debate #57 The Health Dilemma: achieving scale and efficiency Apr 24, 2013
- Mar 7, 2013 Edge Debate #56 Building Information Modelling Mar 7, 2013
- Mar 6, 2013 Edge Debate #55 at Ecobuild - The Politics of Carbon Emissions Data Mar 6, 2013
- Feb 20, 2013 Edge Debate #54 – A New Professionalism? Feb 20, 2013
- Jan 31, 2013 Edge Debate #53 - Construction Needs Women, Because …… Jan 31, 2013
-
2012
- Nov 26, 2012 Edge Debate #52 - Building a State of Equilibrium Nov 26, 2012
- Oct 30, 2012 Edge Debate #51 – London redistributed? Oct 30, 2012
- Oct 8, 2012 Edge Debate 50 - Setting the Conditions for Innovation Oct 8, 2012
- Apr 23, 2012 Edge Debate 49 - Shale gas: a game changer? Apr 23, 2012
- Mar 13, 2012 Edge Workshop #48 - Fixing procurement Mar 13, 2012
-
2011
- Nov 2, 2011 Edge Debate 47 - The Politics and Geopolitics of Low Carbon Growth Nov 2, 2011
- Oct 6, 2011 – Oct 7, 2011 Edge Cities Conference - How Scary is Smart Oct 6, 2011 – Oct 7, 2011
- Oct 6, 2011 Edge Debate #44 - UK construction resources: Is there a plan? Oct 6, 2011
- Sep 15, 2011 Edge Debate #46 - What does it mean to be a building professional in the 21st century? Sep 15, 2011
- Sep 8, 2011 Edge Debate #45 - Cutting carbon at any cost? Sep 8, 2011
- Apr 20, 2011 Edge Debate #43 - Low Carbon Buildings - truth or dare? Apr 20, 2011
- Jan 11, 2011 Edge Debate #42 - How long will clients tolerate the educational barriers to a low carbon construction industry? Jan 11, 2011
-
2010
- Sep 22, 2010 Edge Debate #41 - For and against combined heat & power and community heating Sep 22, 2010
- Jun 10, 2010 Edge Debate #40 - The focus on carbon is distracting us from saving carbon Jun 10, 2010
-
2009
- Nov 19, 2009 Edge Debate #39 - Engineering the road to Copenhagen Nov 19, 2009
-
2008
- Nov 12, 2008 Edge Debate #38 - 80:20 Nov 12, 2008
- Oct 27, 2008 Edge Debate #37 - Are you dwelling comfortably? Oct 27, 2008
- Sep 22, 2008 Edge Debate #36 - Influencing Copenhagen Sep 22, 2008
- May 5, 2008 Edge Debate #35 - Carbon Targets#3: Living within 20% May 5, 2008
- Apr 5, 2008 Edge Debate #34 - Carbon Targets#2: will 20% get us to where we need to be? Apr 5, 2008
- Jan 16, 2008 Edge Debate #33 - Zero-carbon homes faster, nicer and more sustainable Jan 16, 2008
-
2007
- Jun 18, 2007 Edge Debate #32 - What did you do during the thaw Daddy? Jun 18, 2007
- Feb 19, 2007 Edge Debate #31 - Regime Change: is there a case for restructuring? Feb 19, 2007
-
2006
- Oct 30, 2006 Edge Debate #30 - Fat Cities Oct 30, 2006
- Sep 14, 2006 Edge Debate #29 - Dongtan: The ground rules have changed? Sep 14, 2006
- May 3, 2006 Edge Debate #28 - Balance: Living within our means May 3, 2006
- Jan 6, 2006 Edge Debate #27 - Demand: We are running out of atmosphere? Jan 6, 2006
-
2005
- Sep 28, 2005 Edge Debate #26 - Supply: What are our needs and can we meet them? Sep 28, 2005
- Apr 25, 2005 Edge Debate #25 - Energy step change- the view from the future Apr 25, 2005
- Jan 24, 2005 Edge Debate #24 - People or place Jan 24, 2005
-
2004
- Oct 20, 2004 Edge Debate #23 - Strong walls make good neighbours Oct 20, 2004
- Sep 13, 2004 Edge Debate #22 - Is the Stick a big enough Carrot? Sep 13, 2004
- May 6, 2004 Edge Debate #21 - CSR - driver or barrier? May 6, 2004
-
2003
- Dec 4, 2003 Edge Debate #20 - Tipping points Dec 4, 2003
- May 12, 2003 Edge Debate #19 - Feedback: Why don’t we learn? May 12, 2003
- Mar 10, 2003 Edge Debate #18 - The Energy White paper: Is it taking us where we want to go? Mar 10, 2003
- Jan 15, 2003 Edge Debate #17 - Are Tall Buildings Sustainable? Jan 15, 2003
-
2002
- Dec 11, 2002 Edge Debate #16 - Innovation: is there a business process? Dec 11, 2002
- May 10, 2002 Edge Debate #15 - Rethinking Urban Design Conference May 10, 2002
- May 9, 2002 Edge Debate #14 - The UK’s (Scotland’s?) Energy Policy May 9, 2002
-
2001
- Nov 7, 2001 Edge Debate #12 - The Hawley Review: What does it offer construction? Nov 7, 2001
- Nov 7, 2001 Edge Debate #13 Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed Nov 7, 2001
-
2000
- Oct 3, 2000 Edge Debate #11 Right First Time? Oct 3, 2000
- Jun 22, 2000 Edge Debate #10 - E-Commerce: its impact on the design of the city Jun 22, 2000
- Mar 16, 2000 Edge Debate #9 - Designing Tomorrow’s Designers Mar 16, 2000
-
1999
- Jul 20, 1999 Edge Debate #8 - Ageing workforce and declining impact: Where are tomorrow’s engineers? Jul 20, 1999
- Apr 20, 1999 Edge Debate #7 Construction feedback: What can insurance offer best practice? Apr 20, 1999
-
1998
- Oct 28, 1998 Edge Debate #6 The Good Institution(s) Oct 28, 1998
- Apr 22, 1998 Edge Debate #5 Sustainability: the Carrot or the Stick Apr 22, 1998
-
1997
- Oct 29, 1997 Edge Debate #4 Sustainability and Energy Consumption in Buildings Oct 29, 1997
- May 22, 1997 Edge Debate #3 - Urban Transport: Going Nowhere Fast? May 22, 1997
- Feb 12, 1997 Edge Debate #2 City, Suburb, or Country? Who cares! Feb 12, 1997
-
1996
- Jun 18, 1996 Edge Debate #1 Who makes Britain sick? Jun 18, 1996