Press Release – High Performance Building Alliance’s Net Zero Construction Symposium Highlights Urgent Need for Strategic Framework in Ireland’s Built Environment

The High Performance Building Alliance (HPBA) hosted a highly successful Net Zero Construction Symposium in Wexford on Wednesday, 21st January, gathering leading voices from across Ireland’s construction, sustainability, and innovation ecosystems. The event, opened by Cllr. Garry Laffan, Mayor of Wexford and Chair of the HPBA Board, brought together an impressive array of technical experts, policymakers, and industry practitioners committed to reshaping Ireland’s built environment for a net-zero future.

 

The symposium, organised by HPBA CEO Amanda Stewart, convened specialists spanning circularity, biobased materials, business support consultancy, modern methods of construction (MMC), supply chain logistics, skills and education, and applied research. The collective purpose was clear and urgent — to examine Ireland’s pathway to decarbonisation and the modernisation of its housing and construction sectors, especially in the context of accelerating housing delivery amid growing calls for sustainable transformation.

Yet amidst the optimism and collaboration, a critical insight emerged: while innovation is thriving within individual domains such as materials, energy, and skills, Ireland currently lacks a coordinated strategic framework that connects these activities into a coherent national approach.

 

This absence of integration, delegates warned, is leading to “relative chaos” — where the drive for urgent action risks undermining long-term sustainability, capability, and value. The symposium highlighted the particularly noticeable absence of lifetime value considerations in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) solutions, signalling a gap between innovation and long-term planning.

 

However, the event also showcased the collaborative spirit that sets Wexford and the South East apart. By convening a broad spectrum of expertise and fostering open dialogue, the HPBA is actively creating a platform for alignment and collective action — the very antidote to the fragmentation currently hindering progress nationally.

 

“This symposium represents more than a conversation — it’s a movement,” said Cllr. Garry Laffan, Chair in his opening remarks. “Through the HPBA, Wexford is positioning itself as a South East leader in high-performance, low-carbon building. Our strength lies in working together, across disciplines and sectors, to engineer real value for Ireland’s future.”

Founded as a joint initiative between Wexford County Council and the Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB), the High Performance Building Alliance is dedicated to driving innovation, skills development, and sustainable construction excellence across the region. The HPBA provides a collaborative framework for industry, academia, and government to integrate research, best practice, and enterprise towards Ireland’s net zero ambitions.

 

The success of the Net Zero Construction Symposium marks an important step forward — both for Wexford’s emerging leadership role and for Ireland’s wider journey to a resilient, high-performance built environment.