Adapting Housing for a Changing Future

This 2-hour hybrid event, taking place in person at the University of Stirling's Campus Central (Room 3_04) and online, will explore how housing can be adapted to meet the challenges of climate change, an ageing population and increasing accessibility needs. Three social science experts will talk about their research, and the lessons for adapting our housing stock to a changing and uncertain future. 

The summer of 2026 was a clear reminder of how climate change is affecting our weather, and how homes adapted for very different climates and weather extremes can now become uninhabitable. Yet, the changing climate is just one of the wide changes our housing stock has to cope with. Our population is ageing, and becoming disabled. Often it is the lack of accessibility in people's homes that becomes a barrier for people. Within policy debates, there is often a focus on new build housing, yet the greater challenge is retrofitting our existing housing stock, much of which is over a century old, and is across a range of different tenures. In this hybrid webinar, three social science experts will talk about their research, and the lessons for adapting our housing stock to a changing and uncertain future.

Event led by Professor Peter Matthews (Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology). Speakers: Dr Vanicka Arora (Heritage Studies); Professor Vikki McCall (Housing and Social Policy); Professor Lesley Palmer (Ageing and Dementia Design).

Housing professionals, and anyone interested in housing (include owners and tenants).

Anyone interested in housing (include owners and tenants).