Enablers supporting acceptance of earth-based material in UK urban housing sector

Earth is not widely used in the UK and a vast majority of local construction professionals are unaware of the potential of contemporary earthen architecture and construction. A number of interrelated factors (inhibitors) render earth globally unpopular, and, in the UK in particular, earth is not readily exploited. Certain factors (enablers), no doubt, may increase the acceptance level of earthen construction and technology, and a key aim of this article is to deliver an in-depth investigation and present a clear understanding of how certain enablers may support the widespread acceptance of earth-based material in the context of UK urban housing. In order to achieve this aim, an Interpretivist research philosophy was employed. It comprises a detailed review of the current literature and Delphi method (designed to identify generic enablers that may support acceptance of earth); in-depth interviews employed to validate and contribute to an extensive list of drivers that may promote the widespread acceptance of earth in the background of UK urban housing. A number of interrelated enablers such as offering earth-based material courses in universities, organizing training programmes for all stakeholders, promoting earth building via British media, increased funding on earth construction innovation and exhibiting exemplar earth architecture are found to be the key enablers of acceptance of earth in the UK urban housing. However, this study recommends that implementing all these enablers along with constructing exemplar earth structures in all local areas of the UK would increase public acceptance of earth.