Free K Rend Webinar Explores Smarter Housing for the Future

With the government pushing for 1.5 million new homes this Parliament, the pressure is on housebuilders to deliver housing that is not only cost-effective but also sustainable, resilient, and desirable to communities. To help tackle these challenges, K Rend hosted a free webinar, The Evolution of Home Design, bringing together industry leading voices from across the industry to share insights on how smarter design and specification choices can shape the UK’s long-term housing stock.

Hosted by James Parker, Editor of Housebuilder and Developer magazine, the session took place online on Tuesday 30^th September from 10:00am to 11:15am. It will explored how to meet consumer and community expectations, avoid costly remedial work, and achieve the right balance between cost, performance, and aesthetics.

The expert panel featured Danielle Michalska-Morris, Director of Research and Technical Innovation at Taylor Wimpey, on the regulatory drivers shaping new housing; Daniel Postill, Associate Architect and Certified Passivhaus Designer at Bowman Riley, on design trends and façade longevity; Gary Wilson, Business Development Manager at LABC Warranty, on the hidden costs of poor specification; and David Grace, Sales Director at Saint-Gobain Exterior Solutions, on smarter specification and working closely with product manufacturers at an early stage to reduce risks of remedial costs.

The webinar was designed for Technical and Commercial Directors, Procurement Managers, Quantity Surveyors, Heads of Construction, and Architects working on large-scale residential schemes. Delegates gained practical, real-world insights into the UK’s long-term housing vision, exploring what future developments should look like and how they can be delivered successfully.

The session explored balancing budget constraints with design ambition and community acceptance, ensuring homes are both affordable and appealing. Attendees learned how early specification decisions can minimise risks and costly warranty claims, while discovering strategies to control build costs without sacrificing quality or design. The webinar concluded with a live Q&A, allowing participants to ask the expert panel questions and receive practical, tailored advice.