‘London’s historic buildings are an essential part of our city’s indentity and they can also be part of our climate solution,’ Brenda Dacres OBE, executive member for transport and environment, said.
London Councils has launched a new guide to help boroughs support low-carbon upgrades to the capital’s historic homes while preserving their architectural character.
Titled the London Retrofit Heritage Homes Guide, the document has been developed with the London Borough of Hackney and outlines advice for planning teams to help residents and homeowners improve the energy performance of listed buildings and properties.
According to the cross-party group, retrofitting older buildings offers a number of benefits including tackling fuel poverty and improving indoor comfort. Research from London Councils shows 17% of homes in the capital are in conservation areas, with particularly high rates in boroughs such as Westminster, where 76% of homes fall within protected zones.
‘London’s historic buildings are an essential part of our city’s identity and they can also be part of our climate solution,’ Brenda Dacres OBE, London Councils’ executive member for transport and environment, said. ‘Boroughs are already leading the way in supporting residents to make their homes warmer, healthier and more energy efficient.
‘This new guidance gives them the practical tools to retrofit and upgrade heritage homes with confidence, preserving what makes our city unique while helping us deliver a greener future for Londoners.’
To give context into how beneficial green upgrades are, a case study highlighted London properties that installed loft insulation, double glazing, heat pumps and efficient lighting saved around 2.8 tonnes of carbon emission annually and reduced energy bills by £910.
A spokesperson for Historic England, added: ‘Historic England supports initiatives that reduce carbon emissions from historic buildings whilst also protecting the building fabric to safeguard their significance and ensure a comfortable, healthy indoor environment.
‘We welcome the London Heritage Homes Retrofit Guide’s efforts to help partners better understand and navigate energy efficiency and decarbonisation requirements in different heritage contexts, and we recognise the crucial role London boroughs play in delivering this ambition.’
Photos: London Councils
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