On 23rd July 2024, Historic England published: ‘Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency: Historic England Advice Note 18’. With around one quarter of the UK’s building stock at least 100 years old, the Advice Note comes at a pivotal time to provide clarity and support consistent decision-making for proposals to improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings, whilst conserving their significance and ensuring they remain viable places for future generations to enjoy.
The Advice Note is aimed at local planning authorities – and other professionals involved in the planning process – though it is useful for anyone considering ways to decarbonise and improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings to enable positive climate action.
It comes as no surprise that Historic England root their advice in a ‘whole building approach’, essentially this involves:
- Understanding the building and how it performs.
- Understanding the heritage significance and contribution of its setting.
- Prioritising interventions that are proportionate, effective and sustainable.
- Avoiding and minimising harm and the risk of maladaptation.
Some local planning authorities already require evidence that the ‘whole building approach’ has been followed when determining applications for adaptations to historic buildings, but by no means all.
We anticipate that this renewed call will result in more consistency in the approaches taken by local planning authorities, providing clarity on considerations and the information required to support applications for planning permission, listed building consent and other related consents to undertake such works on adapting, decarbonising and improving the energy efficiency of historic buildings.
The Advice Note dispels some of the common myths surrounding energy efficiency measures, providing answers to questions for homeowners about listed buildings and homes in conservation areas, including advice on insulation, boilers and heating systems, heat pumps, draft-proofing, replacing or adapting windows, and installing solar panels.
The Note also outlines some of the tools available for managing and consenting change at scale including local and neighbourhood development orders, local listed building consent order and listed building heritage partnership agreements. There is no doubt that to achieve net zero ambitions in the UK by 2050, change will be required at scale.
Historic England has produced a series of case studies highlighting effective solutions that save energy and carbon, while preserving the heritage of each building and making them comfortable to live and work in.
Ethical Planning have considerable experience in securing planning permission, listed building consent and other related consents for works to improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings. Contact us to find out how we can support you.