Own The Build

From Oil to Off-Grid: How One Village Set a New Standard for UK Housing (EP 221)

C-Link Episode 221

In the studio today, Paul is joined by Emma Fletcher, Low Carbon Homes Director at Octopus Energy, Chair of the RICS Residential Professional Group Panel, and a lifelong innovator in residential development. From leading housing associations to helping an entire village go 100% off oil, Emma is redefining what a modern home should be.

Register your interest for the Strategy Summit Event at the Churchill War Rooms on June 26th here - https://c-link.com/C-Link-Churchill-War-Rooms-Event

In this episode, Emma and I dive into the rise of zero-bill homes – what they are, how they work, and why they’re no longer a pipe dream. We talk about solar, battery, heat pumps, AI, and homes as energy assets, not just consumers.

We explore:

  • The Swaffham Prior story – how a village went off-grid

  • Why retrofit might scale faster than new build

  • How housebuilders, surveyors and contractors must rethink viability and design

  • Why zero bills is becoming the global standard, and how the UK can catch up

Whether you’re a developer, QS, contractor or housing association—this conversation will make you think differently about how homes are designed, valued, and delivered in the future.

📩 Have a question for Paul? Email paul@c-link.com to have it answered in an upcoming episode!

📩 If you'd like to read the two Own the Build eBooks based on 200+ episodes — Mastering Your Career in Quantity Surveying and The AI Revolution in Quantity Surveying — head to the show notes to download your free copy.

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