Purcell to attend UKREiiF 2025
We’re excited to announce that Purcell will be attending the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) 2025, taking place from 20–22 May in Leeds.
Our team – Tom Bridgen, Lorna Crane, Jo Bartle, Laura Baron, and Peter Buist – will be representing Purcell at the event. Across the three days, we’ll be taking part in panel discussions, fringe events, and networking sessions, sharing insights into how heritage can play a central role in delivering net zero, social value, and meaningful regeneration.
Want to connect with our team? Reach out to arrange a meeting: manchesteroffice@purcelluk.com
Navigating the Retrofit Challenge: Decarbonisation, Social Value, and Leveraging Heritage Capital
As part of UKREiiF25, we’ll be hosting a fringe event, which will include an expert-led panel discussion on ‘Navigating the Retrofit Challenge’. We’ll be exploring the pressing challenges local authorities face in retrofitting the built environment. The discussion will focus on strategies to achieve decarbonisation, enhance social value, and unlock the potential of heritage capital.
Meet our panellists
- Peter Hughes – Wigan Council
Operations Director for the Haigh Hall Transformation Project. Peter has overseen the project’s ambitious vision, backed by £20m Levelling Up funding, £4.6m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and a £24m capital investment from Wigan Council.
- James Kirby – English Heritage Trust
Building Services Engineer overseeing energy use and climate resilience across 400+ historic sites. James brings deep expertise in sustainable building services and heritage conservation.
- Laura Baron – Purcell
Head of Sustainability at Purcell. Laura authored the Heritage Building Retrofit Toolkit and contributes to several industry initiatives including Architects Declare, LETI, and the NLA Conservation and Retrofit Panel.
- Ian Shaw – Max Fordham LLP
Partner and building services engineer with extensive experience in heritage retrofit. Ian has led high-profile projects such as the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and Contact Theatre.
- Dan Whelan – Place North
Deputy Editor at Place North and host of the Scheming podcast. Dan is a leading voice in property and regeneration journalism in the North of England.
Follow Purcell on LinkedIn and Instagram for live updates from UKREiiF 2025.