Looking Ahead: Navigating the Future of Residential Design

28 July 2026

Throughout July, P+HS Architects partnered with Lichfields UK and leading built environment specialists for Looking Ahead: The Future of Residential Design, a three-part regional event series bringing together local planning authorities, registered providers, and industry leaders.

Across three packed mornings in Manchester, Durham, and Bradford, cross-disciplinary panels tackled the biggest challenges facing housing delivery today—from sweeping planning reforms and viability pressures to net-zero carbon targets and community placemaking.

Key Takeaways from the Series

Planning Reform

Navigating policy shifts, legislative updates, and local authority targets.
Sustainability

Future Homes Standard, emerging heating technology, and net-zero strategies.
Viability & Delivery

Balancing financial pressures with quality, compliance, and community needs.
Placemaking

Designing flexible, high-quality community spaces and sustainable landscapes.

Event 1: Kickstarting the Conversation in Manchester

The series kicked off in Manchester, the morning focused on navigating planning reforms, economic pressures and the practicalities of delivering high-quality, sustainable homes.

Panel & Keynote Speakers:

Ross Holleron | Head of Homes and Construction at Future Homes Hub

Katie Shepherd | Associate Director, Residential Lead, Architect at P+HS Architects

Kalwant Gill-Faci | Architect, Associate at P+HS Architects

Charlie Heywood-Heath | Senior Economist at Lichfields UK

Alexandra Gavin | Senior Planner at Lichfields UK

Helen Armitage | Director at Drees & Sommer UK

Matt Taylor | Director at Urban Green

Event 2: In-Depth Panels & Debate in Durham

Following a successful launch, the second event brought six diverse perspectives into one conversation. Highlighted by an interactive audience panel, key discussions focused on the viability of free-flow community spaces, the Future Homes Standard, next-generation home heating and financial delivery barriers.

Panel & Keynote Speakers:

Alastair Willis | Planning Director at Lichfields UK

Alex Brooks | Managing Director at AES Sustainability Consultants

Alistair Henderson | Associate at RNJ Partnership

Clare Lane | Associate Architect at P+HS Architects

Henrietta Pissarro | Associate Architect at P+HS Architects

Peter Owens | Founder & Chief Designer at Colour Urban Design Ltd

Event 3: Rounding Off the Series in Bradford

The final stop of the series brought honest conversations, challenging perspectives and actionable insights to Bradford. Speakers and attendees explored evolving community needs, placemaking and the realities of residential delivery in today's economic climate.

Panel & Keynote Speakers:

Richard Greenwood | Efficiency North

Katie Shepherd | Associate Director at P+HS Architects

Mark Heron | P+HS Architects

Alex Brooks | Managing Director at AES Sustainability Consultants

Dave Carter | G+L Landscape Architects

Zoe Simmonds | Lichfields UK

A huge thank you to all our guest speakers, partners at Lichfields UK, and attendees who made these events such a success. Great conversations truly shape great places!