1 Year of Labour Government: How Sustainability Policy is Shaping Green Housing Reform

Posted on August 4, 2025

Labour is now one year into government. We reflect on their bold visions from 3 months into office: tighten energy standards, expanding retrofitting, and rewrite planning rules to put sustainability front and centre.Last year that while the messaging was strong, many specifics were still being shaped behind closed doors. Now, some of those specifics have emerged. A revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was released in December 2024, updated to include a presumption in favour of sustainable and affordable housing development. In which local planning authorities have been empowered to...

Bris soleil to reduce overheating at home

How to reduce overheating at home!

Posted on June 25, 2025

by Russell Selby

Overheating is not a typical complaint from homeowners in Europe or the UK, but you need to know how to reduce overheating at home. It is a growing concern, that homeowners, councils, and government bodies should be taking seriously. In Manchester specifically, we typically experience only a few weeks each year when cooling is needed, compared to around six months of heating demand. It’s no wonder that many people are reluctant to invest in expensive cooling systems. However, managing heat intelligently can improve living conditions, support productivity, and reduce the...

PHPP vs. SAP: The Path to Low Energy Excellence

Posted on May 24, 2025

by Russell Selby

When it comes to assessing the energy efficiency of homes in the UK, two primary methodologies are often discussed, PHPP vs. SAP. the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) and the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP). While both aim to evaluate a building's energy performance, they differ significantly in their approaches, applications, and outcomes. SAP: A low Bar for Energy Efficiency SAP is the UK government's approved method for assessing and comparing the energy and environmental performance of dwellings. It is based on the mathematical model BREDEM (Building Research Establishment Domestic Energy Model). It is...

Underfloor heating pipe on concrete slab

Concrete Slab with Underfloor Heating: The Smart Way to Build Warm, Efficient Floors

Posted on May 12, 2025

by Russell Selby

As suspended timber ground floors become less popular amongst new build construction firms. Block and beam and insulated concrete slab are becoming the staple. When insulation is a priority, a slab is the optimum and is easily paired with underfloor heating (UFH) Concrete Slab or Suspended Floor? Choosing the Right Foundation for UFH Recently, a client approached Resolve regarding the replacement of his suspended ground floor with a concrete slab. Personally, I am an advocate for suspended floors, primarily because I consider upgrading or retrofitting them to be a more sustainable and DIY-friendly...

The Hidden Weak Spot in Your Renovation – Insulating window reveals

Posted on April 17, 2025

by Russell Selby

There’s a critical detail that often slips our mind, and that’s the junctions in particular insulating window reveals. When it comes to upgrading a home’s energy performance, most people focus on the big stuff – new windows, fresh insulation, maybe new appliances. Job done, right? Not quite.Whether it’s where the wall meets the roof, the floor, or as we’re focusing on in this short blog, where the wall meets the window. These are the spots where performance can quietly unravel if they’re not treated with care. Types of heat loss Heat loss...