28/01/2026 - RSN Seminar: Rural Net Zero

You can download the agenda for the day here

The Speaker Presentations can be downloaded below:

Kerry Booth, Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network "Welcome & Introduction to the topic of Rural Net Zero" (Download presentation here)

Gareth Field , RISE Learning and Development Operational Lead, Supply Chain Lead and Sustainable Communities Team Senior Consultant, Turner & Townsend "Rural retrofit: Challenges, Solutions and Opportunities" (Download presentation here)

Garry Ford, Environmental Project Officer, Corsham Town Council “Delivering an Eco Fair for Corsham” (Download presentation here)

Professor Matthew Reed, Director, Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI); Head of Research, University of Gloucestershire and Dr Natasha Stonebridge, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), University of Gloucestershire "The Challenge of Rural Electrification" (Download presentation here)

Cllr Anne Stephenson, Councillor, Petersfield Town Council “Council, Community & Climate: Working Together for a Greener Petersfield” (Download presentation here)

An AI generated summary of this seminar can be downloaded below:

Speakers and related links:

Kerry Booth, Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network
"Welcome & Introduction to the topic of Rural Net Zero"

RSN Delivering for All Campaign
https://www.rsnonline.org.uk/delivering-for-all

RSN Fair Funding Campaign
https://rsnonline.org.uk/fairer-funding-campaign

Statistical Digest for Rural England, Energy Statistics
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68fa474d35dbb2bcedb5f973/8_Energy_15_10_2025v2.pdf

Warm Homes Plan 2026
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696f8a3ec0f4afaa9536a0c4/warm-homes-plan-standard-print.pdf

Fuel Poverty Strategy for England 2026
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuel-poverty-strategy-for-england/fuel-poverty-strategy-for-england--2

RSN Rural Lens
https://www.rsnonline.org.uk/tag/rural-lens
The RSN will be reviewing the Warm Homes Plan and Fuel Poverty Strategy and will add our thoughts to our Rural Lens Series.

Gareth Field , RISE Learning and Development Operational Lead, Supply Chain Lead and Sustainable Communities Team Senior Consultant, Turner & Townsend
"Rural retrofit: Challenges, Solutions and Opportunities"

RISE Knowledge Hub
https://riseretrofit.org.uk/knowledge-hub

Retro Fit Self-Assessment
https://riseretrofit.typeform.com/to/i0uXbHnH?typeform-source=riseretrofit.org.uk

Garry Ford, Environmental Project Officer, Corsham Town Council
“Delivering an Eco Fair for Corsham”

Corsham Town Council Carbon Reduction Plan
https://www.corsham.gov.uk/community/climate-change/

Professor Matthew Reed, Director, Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI); Head of Research, University of Gloucestershire & Dr Natasha Stonebridge, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), University of Gloucestershire
"The Challenge of Rural Electrification"

Rural Electrification Report, August 2025
https://ruralengland.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Rural-Electrification-Final-Report-August-2025.pdf

Former CCRI Research on the Rural Community Energy Fund
https://ccri.ac.uk/research-projects/01/2014/evaluation-of-the-rural-community-energy-fund-rcef/

Cllr Anne Stephenson, Councillor, Petersfield Town Council
“Council, Community & Climate: Working Together for a Greener Petersfield”

Petersfield Town Council Climate Action
https://www.petersfield-tc.gov.uk/considering-the-environment/

Hampshire and Solent, Voice for Climate and Nature
https://voiceforclimateandnature.org/

Energise South Downs, community energy initiative
https://esd.energy/

My Home Made Better, helping Hampshire residents save money, and futureproof their homes
https://myhomemadebetter.org/

Useful links from the session:

Stoke Climsland Retrofit Guide
https://www.stokeclimslandparishcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Stoke-Climsland-Retrofit-Guide-Supplement-Guidance-for-Heritage-Traditional-Properties-V05-FINAL-2.pdf

RSN coverage of Stoke Climsland Parish Council's Retro Initiative
https://www.rsnonline.org.uk/helping-residents-make-homes-healthier-and-more-efficient

North East Warm Homes Advice
https://northeast-warmhomes.co.uk/

NICRE's research on Rural Net Zero, especially Rural Community Energy
- https://nicre.co.uk/publications/
- https://nicre.co.uk/innovation-portal/rural-community-energy/

2026 programme available to book now!
Visit: https://rsnonline.org.uk/images/meetings/online-seminars/2026/programme.pdf
Please note, our events are free to attend for RSN members only.

Our next seminar is on Rural Connectivity on 25 February, please use the link above to book.