Leading National Building Manufacturer and STEAMhouse Collaborate to Tackle Housing Crisis

STEAMhouse and leading build material manufacturer Ibstock Plc recently collaborated in a first-of-it’s-kind innovative Challenge Event focused on how we can build more Resilient Neighbourhoods, supporting the UK Government’s housebuilding goals. We brought together a diverse range of over 30 industry leaders, policymakers, academics and stakeholders to address one of the most pressing issues of our time: the UK housing crisis.

The event highlighted the power of cross-sector collaboration in creating resilient neighbourhoods that address future generations’ needs and challenges. With the Government’s ambitious goal of delivering 1.5 million new homes this parliamentary term, the housing sector faces pressing issues to be able to achieve this transformative policy, such as affordability, ageing housing stock, skill shortages, building safety, and the growing impact of climate change—underscoring the need for innovative and united action.

As part of the STEAM challenge event, participants explored how we can embrace the recent change in the political landscape and the positive challenge set by the UK Government to best overcome barriers collectively, building resilient neighbourhoods fit for generations to come. The session was led by the Innovation Services team at STEAMhouse, and was a curious, honest, collaborative and safe space for ideas to be exchanged.

Ibstock Plc, a leading manufacturer of building materials with over 200 years of industry expertise, is accelerating their journey to inspire innovation in housebuilding.

Joe Hudson, CEO at Ibstock Plc stated: “By working together with key stakeholders, we aim to challenge the status quo and shape a new era of housebuilding – as we are so much more than a building materials manufacturer. This event is an opportunity to collectively explore solutions that will ensure our neighbourhoods remain resilient and vibrant for generations to come.”

Vita Woods, Innovation Manager at STEAMhouse added: “We’re proud to partner with Ibstock Plc to bring together such a diverse mix of professions and perspectives from across the sector who through collaboration can make our neighbourhoods more resilient. By applying curiosity, we can explore the commonalities and tensions that exist within sectors and accelerate the move from conversation to action and work together to ensure we are all playing our best role in leading change.”

Participants at the event engaged in dynamic workshops and discussions that interrogated systemic and emerging challenges, whilst also envisioning future opportunities for creating higher quality housing and resilient neighbourhoods. Younger participants in the event voiced their concerns around how new neighbourhoods are developed, including their resilience to climate change and how strong communities and support networks are forged.

The Challenge Event began with attendees reflecting on what they didn’t know and acknowledging that no one has all the answers; the key factors that have to be explored before any challenge can be addressed. Next up, using our Innovation Toolbox, the different groups mapped the ingredients that make-up Resilient Neighbourhoods, using theme prompts to plot the ingredients and any connections and interdependencies. The Resilient Neighbourhoods Map tool then moved the discussion onto delivering resilience, and highlighting how the ingredients previously plotted out actually deliver resilient neighbourhoods, and if they don’t, what is needed to get there.

The Challenge Event then moved onto Generations to Come, and following presentations from BCU Academics Professor Claudia Carter and Doctor Senem Zeybekoglu Sadri, participants reflected on how the map of ingredients might need to change to meet the needs of generations to come. Ingredients were updated, removed and added to respond to the challenges of the future. A new Tool was then introduced; the Priority Mapping Tool, where ingredients were sorted in individual exercises into High, Medium and Low priority buckets. The group then came together to create a collective map which was played back to everyone, with new discoveries and reflections shared across the inter-disciplinary group.

After a break for lunch, the wider group used the Getting There tool to explore the barriers and enablers that exist to building resilient neighbourhoods. Supporting factors like people, actions, physical things, jobs, relationships, technologies and policies were plotted out first. Second, came the plotting of barriers and things that get in the way. Lastly, was the joining of the dots to match the barriers to the enablers that will help the housing industry overcome the challenge of building resilient neighbourhoods.

Finally, everybody in the group explored how they can lead change in addressing the challenge of building more resilient neighbourhoods, using the Leading Change Tool. Starting with thinking about why change has to happen. Next, using the Tool, participants thought about what their role and function should and could play in enabling change, what others in the industry can do to lead change, and how we can support each other to lead and enable the addressing of the challenge. Finally, it was time to think about what characteristics enable change-makers to succeed, and what values, actions and skills are needed.

The diverse group explored key emerging themes in the housebuilding industry, including how we can all play a role in future-proofing neighbourhoods against climate change, creating inclusive communities of connection and belonging, and getting the balance right between community power and stewardship. To address these challenges, a consensus was reached on how key stakeholders across the built environment need to better enable a sense of place and pride, use adaptable methods and materials in housebuilding, and encourage resource sharing and connectivity, all while placing sustainability at the heart of their actions. Creating resilient neighbourhoods that foster a sense of community was revealed as a top priority for the industry, beyond the building.

At the end of the event, participants all pledged to take action individually and collectively to continue the momentum of creating resilient neighbourhoods that shape a new era of housebuilding and make meaningful change for every one of us.

You can find out more, and start the journey to holding your own Challenge Events here.