By Neil Turner, Director, Howarth Litchfield
Not a day goes past without the media telling us of high energy costs, heat pumps, hydrogen trials and net zero challenges for 2050. Even the political parties are struggling to decide where they stand on the issues, as we face an upcoming election next year.
A lot of the new legislation concerns new builds and improvements to their performance, and we certainly do need to increase their performance, reduce the cost of the technologies and improve people’s knowledge. However, we need to focus more on the existing housing stock, given that half of all houses were built before 1982 and one in six before 1900.
Upgrading, altering and developing these houses, for modern times, needs the skill of a good architect (of course) along with funds, imagination and tenacity.
If this wasn’t hard enough then a further issue is for listed buildings. There are nearly half a million listed buildings in England and Wales, many of which are lived in. A listed building is protected by law so that any changes must be considered sympathetic and in keeping with the original building. Now defining ‘original’ often leads to a healthy debate on older houses that may have had many alterations, throughout different periods of time and history.
I have worked on many manor houses, large country houses and even castles. Such owners face unique challenges in the 21st century, in both preserving their wonderful properties, as well as looking to improve their energy performance.
I always advise talking to the local conservation officer in your region who will have great knowledge of their area and be able to offer guidance on what may or may not be achievable. Early engagement is a must and try hard not to see the officer as the ‘enemy ‘. They will want to see houses improved, loved and maintained for the next generation.
We are seeing a fundamental shift in thinking about older buildings and debates on what is considered improvement to one person may be seen as losing historic fabric to another.
With an older building try and create an overall strategy encompassing improvements, alterations and changes that work with the original building. The planners will then be more sympathetic to your plans.
Take for example glazing and windows. We have seen many listed buildings lose their original sash windows only to be replaced with inappropriate UPVC versions – and often without permission. I recently advised a client on how their timber windows could be repaired and the glazing upgraded to a thin conservation double glazed unit. The overall cost was similar to that of a whole new timber window but maintained the historic fabric. This is a much better solution than internal secondary glazing, which can be ugly. This single improvement helps the energy loss in the building.
Similar issues are occurring on upgrading (or adding) insulation in buildings that are of a solid wall construction. Simply adding it in may look simple enough but it can cause untold damage to buildings resulting in them sweating and leading to more damp issues. Again, speaking to a skilled conservation architect or surveyor experienced in this type of construction is vital. The answer may be simple adaptations on ventilation, blocking draughts (doors, chimneys etc) and improving insulation in cold roofs.
If we want people to take on the ownership (and challenge) of listed buildings then our views on conservation, repair, upgrading and net zero have also to change to suit these modern times.
Neil Turner, director, Howarth Litchfield can be contacted on 0191 3849470 or email n.turner@hlpuk.com
www.howarthlitchfield.com
