‘Key part of the solution’: Historic England publishes guidance on decarbonising listed buildings

Historic England has published a new guide outlining how historic buildings can be adapted to tackle climate change and improve their energy efficiency.

The advice, published this morning, sets out how historic buildings can be retrofitted with a range of technologies that can reduce the buildings’ carbon emissions. These include insulation, boilers and heating systems, heat pumps, draught excluders, new windows and solar panels.

While it is aimed at local planning authorities, heritage consultants and people involved in the planning process, it also answers questions from people living in listed buildings and homes in conservation areas who want to decarbonise their properties, the heritage organisation said.

According to Historic England, the guidance aims to “provide clarity and support consistent decision-making” on proposed projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions and improving the energy efficiency of historic buildings, while “busting some of the myths about measures that can be taken if you live in a listed building or conservation area”.

The UK has the oldest housing stock in Europe, with 38 per cent of British properties built before the end of the Second World War, according to the Resolution Foundation. This poses challenges for public health, climate targets and the country’s finances, as older homes are often poorly insulated, leading to higher energy bills and emissions.

Meanwhile, many owners of listed buildings or houses in protected areas complain that they want to use clean technologies to reduce their energy bills and emissions, but are being held back by strict spatial planning regulations.

But Historic England’s guide argues that Britain’s older housing stock could become a “key part of the solution” to reducing carbon emissions.

“Redeeming historic buildings appropriately doesn’t just mean deploying the most effective means to reduce carbon emissions and fossil fuel dependency,” the report said. “It also means doing so in ways that protect their historic significance and character, which are critical to creating places of beauty, supporting the economy and creating jobs.”

The guidance note is the latest blow to arguments that clean heating technologies are only suitable for certain types of building. It comes after the government-backed Electrification of Heat project concluded that “there is no type of home or architectural era that is unsuitable for a heat pump”.

The new guidance provides advice on what planning permissions are needed for some of the most common changes needed to decarbonise historic buildings and improve their energy efficiency. It also provides recommendations for local planning authorities when determining proposals to decarbonise historic buildings and improve their energy efficiency.

Historic England said the advice is based on a number of key principles, including understanding a building and its performance, understanding the significance of a building, prioritising interventions that are ‘proportionate, effective and sustainable’, and minimising damage and the risk of unintended negative impacts on the building.

Ian Morrison, director of policy and evidence at Historic England, said the guide highlights how the UK’s many historic buildings can be adapted to become more energy efficient and tackle climate change.

“This guidance note shows how the sustainable use and reuse of our historic buildings can help address the impacts of climate change,” he said. “It provides clear advice to local planning authorities, heritage consultants and those involved in the planning process, alongside building owners and occupiers, to ensure that England’s historic buildings are appropriately adapted to respond to the climate crisis.”

Historic England announced that it would be running a training programme for local authorities and heritage professionals this summer, exploring the practical application of the advice.

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