London Heritage Retrofit Guide ITQ

Background to London Heritage Retrofit Guide

The retrofit of London's existing building stock is a key priority in reducing carbon emissions, energy bills, fuel poverty, creating healthier buildings and delivering clean energy for a just transition. Retrofitting is a significant challenge in itself and through the additional barriers created in the planning system, these challenges are even greater for heritage buildings that are in conservation areas and/or listed. This is creating caution and confusion around making and approving retrofit measures in heritage buildings.

Project aims

• The primary aim of this project is to facilitate and accelerate retrofit of heritage buildings (focussed on domestic housing stock) across London balancing the historic and architectural interest of these heritage assets. Inconsistency in the planning system often results in delayed implementation, increased costs, and missed opportunities for carbon reduction in the retrofit of heritage buildings. By addressing these challenges systematically, the aim is to create a more streamlined, consistent, and transparent approach across London boroughs by establishing a framework of guidance and recommendations for four key retrofit measures: Solar PV, Air Source Heat Pumps, External Wall Insulation, and Windows.
• The long-term aim is to create lasting positive change in how heritage retrofitting is approached across London, streamline the planning process for retrofit measures to reduce the burden on planning departments, creating more predictable outcomes for applicants, and improving consistency in decision-making across different boroughs. This will be achieved by developing standardised approaches where appropriate, sharing best practices, and creating clear pathways for both planning and heritage officers and property owners to follow.

The research is expected to meet the following objectives

• Enable local authorities to streamline the planning process for retrofit in heritage contexts with Solar PV, Air Source Heat Pumps, External Wall Insulation, and Windows by identifying common challenges and solutions across London boroughs.
• Facilitate collaboration between heritage conservation officers, wider planning teams and industry to ensure that targets for energy efficiency upgrades in listed and conservation buildings are met while balancing heritage value.
• Demystify the planning and regulatory processes surrounding the retrofitting of heritage buildings, making it easier for stakeholders to understand and navigate the complexities of implementing retrofit measures. Including taking into consideration health considerations, such as the potential unintended consequences related to damp, mould and condensation.
• Build confidence among stakeholders, including local authorities, heritage organisations, and property owners, in adopting sustainable retrofit measures for heritage buildings by providing clear guidance and case studies demonstrating successful implementations