Perceived effectiveness of Building Regulations in promoting and facilitating low energy retrofit in historic buildings

This research is in response to conflicting messages from construction industry professionals around the correct approach to the challenge of retrofitting historic buildings (pre-1919) for energy efficiency.

Building Regulations are often cited as a barrier to effective retrofit of historic buildings (Jenkins, 2021)– both by those who consider the minimum stipulated standards inadequate to enact change, and conversely, by those who think Building Regulations impose too rigid methods that are incompatible with risk-free retrofit.

Recent new uplifts in Approved Documents Part L Conservation of Fuel and Power (DLUHC, 2021a) and Part F Ventilation (DLUHC, 2021b) directly affect retrofit design considerations in existing buildings. Building Regulations have a role to make sure buildings are going to be safe, healthy and high-performing and must play a crucial role in improving standards if we are to decarbonize existing buildings to targets.

The study uses two data collection methods to gauge what industry considers the impact the uplifted requirements will be on fabric improvements, specifically to historic buildings. The paper examines public responses to proposed changes from relevant organisations. This is counterpoised with some individual voices on the ground from conservation professional practice and building control. It draws conclusions on how the changes are perceived in terms of effectiveness.

Results show that the conservation profession tightly guards heritage works and avoids engagement in what appears to be a weak and ineffectual regulatory system. It is too early to gauge how uplifts that came into enforcement in June 2022 will impact the regulatory system for historic building retrofit, but the study indicates they have not yet gone far enough to bring about the ‘cultural shift’ The Hackitt Review (MHCLG, 2018a) so desperately called for.