A government review into the practicalities of retrofitting historic homes, homes in conservation areas and listed buildings has identified opportunities to remove barriers to effective energy efficiency installations and avoid the “blight of ugly or inappropriate retrofit damaging these properties.”
The review, part of the government’s plans to reach Net Zero by 2050, details how historic homes, homes in conservation areas and listed buildings can implement energy efficiency savings. According to the English Housing Survey 2021, homes built before 1919 could save on average £428 per year on energy costs if they are improved to EPC C, through insulation or other energy saving initiatives.
The same survey has been used to point to progress on upgrading housing stock energy efficiency; it is claimed that 47% of homes in England have now reached EPC C levels, up from 14% in 2010. Indeed, further research has suggested that 9 in 10 homes with known EPC ratings could reach EPC C or above.
But upgrading historic homes risks the “blight of ugly or inappropriate retrofit damaging these properties say the government as they outline a series of commitments to drive energy efficiency including
- A consultation on new national development management policy specially for historic buildings, ensuring greater certainty and consistency in decisions.
- Consulting on the greater use of Listed Building Consent Orders to support building improvements, removing the need to submit individual listed building consent applications.
- Developing clearer guidance for historic homeowners on improving energy efficiency and supporting the construction industry to better deliver retrofitting services.
- Consulting on reforms to Energy Performance Certificates to ensure they are accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Lord Callanan said that it was important that we “(protect) our heritage as we progress towards our net zero goal.”
Minister for Housing and Communities Baroness Penn said:
“Our historic homes are the jewel in the crown of this country’s heritage and must be protected. This review will ensure they are preserved for future generations to enjoy, while also improve the lives of those who live in them by reducing their energy costs, supporting us in our shared goal to reach Net Zero by 2050.”
Minister for Arts & Heritage Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay adds:
“People who own and live in historic homes are their custodians, and want to take responsible action to protect them for the benefit of generations to come.
“That isn’t always as straightforward as it should be, so this review has looked at how we can make it easier, while continuing to protect our historic environment.”
Welcoming the review, Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said:
“Historic England welcomes this Energy Efficiency Review and the positive actions it highlights. Historic buildings can and must accommodate change if they are to play a crucial role in helping the UK to transition to Net Zero. This review demonstrates that heritage needn’t be a barrier and identifies opportunities to unlock the potential of historic buildings in England to contribute to meeting our Net Zero target.”
A previous review, the British Energy Security Strategy, published April 2022, identified that there were additional barriers to improving energy efficiency that planning permission, which are often rejected for simple measures such as improved glazing in conservation areas and listed buildings.The scope of this review was broadened to examine a wider set of challenges to retrofitting historic homes, and to identify where further work is needed.
One Response
We live in a 1895 Victorian semi-detached in a conservation area in Birmingham. We have spent a large amount of money retrofitting our house to make it more energy efficient. This has included having as much insulation as possible under our new roof, making sure that all windows are double glazed, including the stained glass ones, and internally insulating as much of the ‘cold’ East wall as we could.
Despite all of these efforts we cannot make it energy efficient enough to be eligible for a government grant to install an air source heat pump. All of the other, very beautiful, houses in our road are in the same position.
I feel that older houses should not be subject to the same criteria as newer builds, but should still be able to apply for some government help to switch away from fossil fuels.