The economy is contracting and in the medium term, the Government will be tightening its belt. What are the implications for a regeneration sector increasingly focused on environmental objectives? Can the UK seriously compete with the US as Barack Obama promises a green new deal?

This round-table debate is the second of our series of three Changing Climate debates in conjunction with Regeneration & Renewal. The debates ask senior figures from regeneration to address the challenges the sector faces in the coming years.

Who's who?

Richard Holt Director, WM Enterprise
Holt was appointed UK director of leading regeneration consultancy WM Enterprise earlier this year. Having spent the last six years at Experian Business Strategies, most recently spearheading its New York operation, he is now responsible for developing WM Enterprise’s UK economics and strategy consultancy.

Duncan Sanders Partner at consultancy Davis Langdon
Sanders is an environmental consultant specialising in brownfield regeneration. He represents the Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) on the Sustainable Remediation Forum (Surf).

Bill Dunster Founder, ZedFactory
Architect Bill Dunster gained prominence for his design of the zero-carbon Bedzed building in south London. His
practice specialises in designing and building energy efficient buildings.

Paul Raynes Programme director for regeneration and transport at the Local Government Association
Previously head of the strategic policy unit at Essex County Council, Raynes was responsible for a landmark Local Government Association paper, Vive la dévolution!, that influenced the Government’s policy on devolution to councils and sub-regions.

Mark Hirst Director of development planning, Capita Symonds
As its director of development planning at multidisciplinary consultancy Capita Symonds, Mark Hirst is currently involved in advising on a number of major regeneration projects, including the South East of England Development Agency’s Woolston Riverside scheme in Southampton.