Historic England publishes new advice on adapting historic buildings for energy and carbon efficiency while conserving their significance and ensuring they remain viable places to live.
 

The world faces a climate emergency, and buildings are a major consideration in addressing this challenge. Historic England has produced this Advice Note to provide clarity and support consistent decision-making for proposals to reduce carbon emissions and improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings, whilst conserving their significance and ensuring they remain viable places to live in the future. It reflects current national planning policy.

 

As historic buildings continue to change and evolve, they need to contribute to a greener future and be fit for purpose for the people who live in, experience and care for them. If done thoughtfully and carefully, changes to historic buildings can achieve the complementary goals of protecting our heritage and adapting to climate change. Keeping historic buildings in use, through sensitive repair, maintenance and adaptation, can help to reduce carbon emissions, reliance on fossil fuels, and energy costs.

 

Primarily aimed at local planning authorities, heritage consultants and those involved in the planning process, the Historic England Advice Note provides: 

 

  

 

Historic England advocates a “whole building approach” when considering adaptations to historic buildings. The approach considers how these elements might work together to provide the most energy, carbon and cost-effective outcomes.

 

The Advice Note is underpinned by several key principles: