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Practical solutions for building resilience into every street
WEDNESDAY 3 JUNE 2026
THE BIG PENNY SOCIAL, WALTHAMSTOW
The annual Climate Resilient Streets conference and exhibition returns on 3rd June. Hosted by Waltham Forest Council and sponsored by Project Centre, Riney and
Meristem Design, the 2026 conference will bring together national policymakers, London leaders, local authorities, engineers, designers, utilities, contractors and communities to accelerate the shift towards climate-ready streets.
As extreme heat, intense rainfall and infrastructure stress become the norm, the urgency to adapt the built environment has never been clearer. Climate Resilient Streets 2026 will focus on practical delivery: policy leadership, funding and maintenance, real-world case studies, and the innovation reshaping how we design, retrofit and manage our streets.
Building on the success of the 2023 and 2024 events, 2026 will go further – scaling up the conversation from ambition to implementation. We look forward to welcoming delegates to The Big Penny Social in Walthamstow for the biggest and most ambitious edition yet.
What's going to be discussed?
Across four focussed sessions, the programme will explore the policies, projects and partnerships driving resilient streets forward:
Policy & Leadership
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National direction and local delivery for climate resilient streets
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The long-term maintenance challenge for sustainable urban drainage (SUDs), rain gardens and landscape-led interventions
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Cross-sector collaboration between councils, utilities, designers, contractors and communities
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Leadership perspectives from central government, London-wide bodies and research institutions
Case Studies & Delivery
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Practical strategies tackling flood risk, urban heat and climate pressures
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Rain gardens and neighbourhood-scale interventions
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Climate Action Plans and Cool Neighbourhood strategies
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Landscape-led street design
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Plus, an optional walking tour of live schemes in Waltham Forest
Funding &
Long-Term Maintenance
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Securing capital and revenue funding for climate adaptation
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The capital vs revenue debate
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Delivering SUDs through street works and partnership projects
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Long-term stewardship and maintenance models
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Lottery, utility, government and programme-based funding routes
Innovation & Future Approaches
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Smart rain gardens with sensor-led irrigation and monitoring
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Adaptive lighting and technology-enabled resilience
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Green roofs, green walls and bioswales in urban streets
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Community-led flood resilience projects
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Updated technical guidance from London-wide and national organisations
Why attend?
Climate Resilient Streets 2026 is not just a conference – it's a working forum for people delivering change.
Attend to:
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Hear directly from national policymakers and leaders shaping climate policy
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Learn from real projects already tackling flooding and heat
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Understand how to secure funding and plan for long-term maintenance
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Discover innovations that move beyond traditional grey infrastructure
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Build cross-sector partnerships essential to delivering resilient streets at scale
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Gain practical insights you can take back to your own projects immediately
With climate risk accelerating, this is a timely opportunity to turn ambition into delivery.
Who should attend?
This event is designed for professionals responsible for shaping, designing, funding and maintaining streets and public realm infrastructure, including:
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Local authority officers and elected members
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Highways, transport and public realm teams
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Climate adaptation and sustainability leads
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Flood risk and drainage engineers
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Urban designers and landscape architects
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Consultants and contractors
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Utilities and infrastructure providers
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Housing providers and regeneration teams
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Community and environmental organisations
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Academics and researchers working on climate resilience
Whether you are setting policy, designing schemes or maintaining assets, Climate Resilient Streets 2026 will provide the insight and connections you need.
Programme
Please note programme is currently in development
09.30
Registration
Tea & coffee served in the exhibition area
10.00
Session 1: Policy & Leadership
Focus on national policy and local leadership relating to climate resilient streets. How do local authorities respond to the long-term maintenance challenges, particularly for Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDs), rain gardens, and landscape interventions? Plus a spotlight on the benefits of cross-sector collaboration between local authorities, utilities, designers, contractors, and communities.
Further details to follow
11.15
Morning break
Tea & coffee served in the exhibition area
11.45
Session 2: Case Studies & Delivery
A look at a range of strategies and projects designed to alleviate the impacts of flooding, heat islands and other challenges to street infrastructure caused by climate change.
Further details to follow
13.00
Lunch break
Refreshments served in the exhibition area
14.00
Session 3: Funding & Long-Term Maintenance
Securing funding for climate adaptation, flooding and other SUDs delivery schemes. The capital vs revenue debate. And how to implement strategies for long-term maintenance.
Further details to follow
15.15
Afternoon break
Tea & coffee served in the exhibition area
15.45
Session 4: Innovation & Future Approaches
Smart rain gardens, adaptive lighting, technology-enabled resilience, and future approaches to
improving resilience.
Further details to follow
17.00
Networking social
Further details to follow
17.30
Event close
Speakers
Speakers will appear here once confirmed
Habib Khan
Founder and Director
Meristem Design
Why exhibit?
Climate Resilient Streets 2026 offers exhibitors direct access to decision-makers actively investing in climate adaptation and resilient infrastructure.
By exhibiting you can:
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Showcase products, technologies and services to senior local authority leaders
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Position your organisation at the forefront of climate resilience
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Demonstrate practical solutions for climate resilience, urban cooling and smart infrastructure
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Build partnerships with councils, utilities and delivery partners
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Align your brand with a high-profile, purpose-driven event
With growing political and public pressure to adapt streets to climate change, demand for credible, deliverable solutions is rising. This is your opportunity to be part of that transformation.
Exhibitors include:
Meristem Design
Project Centre
RINEY