Parkside's take on the conversation shaping the future of Scotland's built environment

Glasgow has long been recognised for its rich architectural heritage, iconic townscape and strong industrial legacy. Yet as cities across the UK face mounting sustainability pressures, changing occupancy demands and increasing pressure to reduce embodied carbon, an important question is emerging:

Will retrofit become the default approach to regeneration, or does the industry still need a fundamental shift in thinking?

This was the focus of Material Source's recent Glasgow Property seminar, "Retrofit – evolution or revolution?", which brought together industry leaders to discuss how Scotland can unlock the potential of existing buildings and accelerate regeneration through reuse, repurposing and retrofit. The discussion featured Dr Katherine Gunderson, CEO of Grand Bequest, and Nick Walker, Director of Built Heritage and Townscape at Iceni Projects.

As a proud sponsor of the event, one message resonated throughout the evening:

The industry already understands the benefits of retrofit. The challenge now is turning ambition into action.

Existing buildings are one of our greatest assets

A strong theme throughout the discussion was the need to shift perception around existing buildings.

Rather than viewing ageing assets as obstacles, the panel highlighted the opportunities they present. Glasgow possesses an extraordinary stock of heritage and commercial buildings, many of which have the potential to support housing, hospitality, workspace and mixed-use developments through thoughtful adaptation.

For Parkside, this reflects a wider industry trend. Across the projects we support, design teams are increasingly seeking ways to maximise the value of existing structures, preserve character and reduce the environmental impact associated with demolition and rebuild.

Retrofit is no longer simply a sustainability conversation. It is becoming a commercial, social and placemaking opportunity too.

Closing the viability gap

The panel was candid about one of the biggest challenges facing retrofit projects: viability.

While the case for refurbishment is often compelling from a sustainability perspective, economic realities can make delivery more complex. Funding mechanisms, planning constraints, taxation and investment structures continue to influence project feasibility.

Despite these challenges, there was optimism that new funding models, stronger public-private partnerships and innovative approaches to investment could help unlock stalled assets and accelerate regeneration across Scotland.

For the design and construction industry, this highlights the importance of delivering long-term value from the outset. Durable, low-maintenance materials that support longevity can play a key role in helping projects achieve stronger whole-life economics.

Learning from successful examples

Another key takeaway was the importance of precedent.

The discussion explored how cities around the world are successfully bringing underutilised buildings back into productive use through coordinated action, supportive policy frameworks and collaborative partnerships. Rather than continuously debating what could happen, the focus was on understanding what is already working elsewhere and applying those lessons locally.

This principle applies equally within the specification community.
Many of the most successful retrofit projects demonstrate that thoughtful design, careful material selection and creative reuse can transform existing assets into highly desirable destinations while retaining the character that makes them unique.

Technology is accelerating opportunity

The conversation also highlighted the growing role of technology in the retrofit process.

Advances in visualisation tools and AI are making it easier than ever to communicate the potential of existing buildings, helping investors, occupiers and stakeholders better understand what a space could become before work begins.

As technology continues to evolve, it has the potential to reduce barriers, streamline decision-making and increase confidence in retrofit-led regeneration.

For designers and developers, that creates exciting opportunities to bring forward projects that may previously have struggled to gain momentum.

A skills challenge and a skills opportunity

One of the final discussions centred around industry readiness.

While specialist expertise exists, the scale of retrofit required to meet future sustainability targets will demand wider upskilling across the entire supply chain. Contractors, consultants, manufacturers and designers all have a role to play in sharing knowledge and developing best practice.

The panel agreed that progress will be driven by collaboration, communication and a collective commitment to learning from one another.
This is particularly relevant as increasing numbers of clients place circular economy principles, embodied carbon reduction and asset reuse at the heart of project briefs.

Why retrofit needs durable material choices

A recurring theme throughout the evening was longevity. If retrofit is about extending the life of existing buildings, then the materials specified within them should be designed to do the same.

As developers and designers increasingly focus on whole-life value rather than upfront cost alone, durable materials become a critical part of the conversation. This is where ceramic and porcelain tiles are particularly well suited to retrofit and regeneration projects.

With a long product lifecycle, low maintenance requirements and proven performance in high-traffic environments, tiles support many of the same objectives driving retrofit:
• Extending the lifespan of buildings and spaces.
• Reducing future replacement and maintenance requirements.
• Delivering better whole-life value.
• Supporting sustainability goals through long-lasting specification.
• Creating attractive, adaptable environments that stand the test of time.

At Parkside, we're seeing growing demand for products that combine exceptional design credentials with long-term performance. As more projects prioritise refurbishment over rebuild, material specification will play a vital role in ensuring investments continue to deliver value for decades to come.

What does this mean for the future of regeneration?

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the evening was the widespread agreement around the direction of travel.

The debate is no longer whether retrofit has a role to play. Instead, discussions focused on how the industry can remove barriers, attract investment and create the conditions needed to accelerate delivery.
For architects, developers, contractors and suppliers alike, the opportunity is clear.

At Parkside, we believe successful retrofit goes beyond preserving buildings. It's about creating spaces that are fit for the future, combining thoughtful design, durable materials and long-term performance. As the industry continues to embrace reuse and regeneration, the projects that deliver the greatest value will be those that consider both the lifecycle of the building and the lifecycle of the materials used within it.

Because the most sustainable building is often the one that's already standing.