Link to webinar:

https://architecturetoday.co.uk/retrofit-for-purpose-policy-procurement-and-practice-webinar/

Good info about where the government is going with embodied carbon,  whole life carbon analysis and where retrofit can help reduce both.

Thanks @archizen for the link, there is such a push to get to net zero by 2050 and the built environment is having to do what it can with new build and retrofit.  If you have an existing building you should try and reuse it and only if the retrofit costs more or the spaces are not fit for use, then think about demolition.  

The case study showed the conversion of a historic silk mill in Bradford into residential units. The overall message was that the industry is becoming more inventive in working with existing buildings, but viability remains a challenge.  If you have the budget you can retrofit.

It was interesting to see a ‘RIBA Stage -1’,  a proposal made by Greg Shannon which aims to encourage clients to consider alternative options before commissioning construction.  There was also talk of Part Z as a proposed amendment to the building regulations (this is a construction industry proposal) that would cap embodied carbon emissions during building work.  There are a lot of things happening within the legislation  but it will still take a few years to implement.