Retrofit or Ruin

Planning for the future of heritage

Climate adaptation is no longer a distant prospect but a present and accelerating challenge. It is critical that we take decisive action to ensure our built heritage does not become obsolete – environmentally, economically or socially. 

Download the full Retrofit or Ruin: Planning for the future of heritage report here

The long-term conservation of historic buildings depends on their ability to adapt – to remain warm, usable and relevant. Buildings that cannot be heated affordably or maintained sustainably risk falling into disuse and decay, undermining the very heritage values the conservation system seeks to safeguard. 

Despite rising energy costs and intensifying extreme weather, rules governing adapting heritage buildings remains complex, inconsistent and risk-averse, limiting progress at the scale and pace required. 

Retrofit or Ruin: Planning for the future of heritage calls for the most significant reform of the heritage protection system in 35 years to accelerate the decarbonisation of the UK’s 3 million listed buildings and properties in conservation areas.

Click here to read the report

93%

of Listed Building Consent applications are approved yet only one in three are determined in the eight-week timeframe.

16%

of local authority officers feel confident making decisions on heritage retrofit.

87%

of historic building owners see the planning system as a major barrier to adapting their properties.

Impact at Scale

Enabling the retrofit of heritage buildings at scale and pace could:

  • Save local planning authorities in England 30,000 hours and £1 million per year. 
  • Cut operational carbon emissions by up to 7.7MtCO₂ annually, equivalent to 30% of the UK’s Sixth Carbon Budget. 
  • Generate around £35 billion in economic output across the UK.
  • Support 205,000 jobs across the UK.

Planning for the future of heritage

Reforming England’s planning system is the most immediate lever available to begin unlocking this potential at scale.

  • Introduce a National Listed Building Consent Order

    Grant automatic consent for low-risk, high-benefit retrofit measures for listed buildings.

    Grant automatic consent for low-risk, high-benefit retrofit measures for listed buildings.

  • Create a national model Local Development Order

    Streamline planning permission for energy efficiency works in conservation areas and areas with high proportions of listed buildings.

    Streamline planning permission for energy efficiency works in conservation areas and areas with high proportions of listed buildings.

  • Launch a Heritage Capacity and Skills Programme

    Build on Historic England's existing training programmes to ensure every local authority has access to qualified conservation expertise.

    Build on Historic England's existing training programmes to ensure every local authority has access to qualified conservation expertise.

  • Legislative changes and reform of NPPF

    Proposed reforms to the NPPF frame retrofit as essential to the long-term sustainability of designated heritage assets.

    Proposed reforms to the NPPF frame retrofit as essential to the long-term sustainability of designated heritage assets.

primary

A system that requires individual approvals for low risk, routine retrofit interventions which are almost always approved but takes months to do so is no longer protecting heritage, it is holding back climate action.

Tor Burrows, Chief Sustainability Officer, Grosvenor
Case study: Retrofitting listed Georgian townhouses Case study: Retrofitting listed Georgian townhouses

Case study: Retrofitting listed Georgian townhouses

On South Molton Street in London’s West End, we are undertaking the deep retrofit of 14 Georgian terraced houses, 10 of which are heritage-listed.

Returning these properties to their original use through the creation of 11 affordable homes, alongside 22 private homes and 18 retail units.

Despite complex heritage constraints, including planning permission and listed building consent, the retrofit of these residential dwellings will deliver a 70% annual reduction in CO² emissions.

Energy performance across South Molton Street will be substantially improved, with existing EPC ratings ranging from E-G rising to B-C post development.

  • Fabric efficiency upgrades include draught-proofing, secondary glazing, roof insulation and internal wall insulation to unlisted facades. 
  • Residential dwellings will be fully electrified through the introduction of heat pumps to enable decarbonisation and cut long-term emissions.
  • On site renewable generation through solar panels will support genuine on-site carbon reduction, potentially generating ~13,725 kWh/year, enough to provide electricity to c. 5 average households (according to Ofgem data).
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