Aston Group takes to the stage at CIH People and Place Conference 2026

Aston Group were delighted to be invited to the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) People and Place Conference 2026, where Julie Dunn and Matthew Hayden represented the business on a panel discussion tackling one of the most important topics facing the housing sector today: Balancing Regulation, Retrofit and Development.

Joining Julie and Matthew on the panel were Mark Crane MA MRICS, Director of Housing Assets at London Borough of Waltham Forest, and Neb Augustinov, Partner – Retrofit at Ridge and Partners LLP. The session, facilitated by Caroline Lester, brought together voices from across the sector to explore the complex pressures local authorities and housing providers are navigating right now.

What made the discussion so compelling was the breadth of perspective on stage — from large-scale local authority programmes to specialist retrofit consultancy — giving the audience a well-rounded view of the challenges and opportunities that exist across different scales of project and funding landscape.

Sharing our experience on the ground

Aston Group shared first-hand experience of managing the end-to-end retrofit of a 40-flat hostel, delivered entirely with residents in situ. From the practical complexities of working in an occupied building to the lessons learnt along the way, the discussion gave a genuine, on-the-ground perspective that resonated with the audience.

The bigger picture

The session shone a light on a balancing act that local authorities across the country are grappling with — meeting rising regulatory expectations, investing at scale in retrofit and decarbonisation, and continuing to deliver much-needed new homes, all without compromising long-term financial viability or resident outcomes.

It's a challenge that sits at the heart of what we do at Aston Group, and conversations like these — bringing together housing providers, local authorities, contractors and policymakers — are exactly what the sector needs to find the right path forward.

Thank you

A huge thank you to Caroline Lester and everyone involved in organising such a thought-provoking event. It was a privilege to be part of the conversation, and we look forward to continuing to play our part in shaping a better, greener and safer housing sector.