Retrofitting UK historic buildings could generate £35bn annually, report finds

A new report outlines that retrofitting historic buildings throughout the UK could generate £35bn of economic output in the economy by sustainably upgrading them to become more environmentally friendly.

Commissioned by the National Trust, Peabody, Historic England, The Crown Estate and Grosvenor, a new report, launched today, highlights that retrofitting historic buildings throughout the UK could reduce carbon emissions by 5% and generate £35bn of economic output. 

According to the report, more than 105,000 new construction workers will be needed to work on decarbonising the UK’s historic buildings every year for the next three decades for the UK to be able to meet its 2050 net-zero target – to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100%.

Recent research shows buildings are responsible for around one fifth of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions and retrofitting can aid in lowering energy emissions whilst prolonging the life of an older building.

Retrofitting also helps avoid carbon emissions that can be produced from demolishing a landmark and building new – particularly the amount of carbon emissions produced from the steel and cement industry.

According to research from Imperial College London, cemenet and steel production contributes 6.5%, which equates to 2.3 billion tonnes, and 7% – 2.6 billion tonnes – og global CO2 emissions respectively.

Plumbers that will be working on transforming the historical sites will be required to work with heat pumps and hydrogen boilers to help sustainably upgrade buildings, and many existing workers will need to be taught additional specialist skills to ensure heritage characteristics are protected.

In addition to making buildings more sustainable, the report is also encouraging the government to make the apprenticeship levy more flexible, allowing unspent funds to be channelled into training more people in the heritage retrofit field, providing more people with jobs.

The report highlights that between May 2019 and July 2022, £3.3bn of unused Apprenticeship Levy was returned to the Treasury.

Lord Kerslake, Chair of Peabody, a housing association group based in London, said: ‘The benefits of prioritising our historic buildings are economic as well as environmental and social.

‘They are an important source of prosperity and growth, with the heritage sector directly contributing £14.7bn to the economy in 2019.’

‘Making these buildings energy efficient will stimulate spending in the construction industry, support around 290,000 jobs in supply chains and boost heritage-related tourism and hospitality’, Lord Kerslake said. ‘And where needed, making older homes more energy efficient will transform the lives of the people who live and work in them, reducing household energy bills and improving health and wellbeing.’

Photo by Mark Timberlake