HES Plans New National Centre for Retrofit of Traditional Buildings

HISTORIC Environment Scotland (HES) is planning a new dedicated national centre for the retrofit of traditional buildings.

The centre will help heritage buildings to improve energy efficiency and contribute to achieving national net zero targets.

HES secured £1m of funding from UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council to establish the new hub. It will use heritage science and research to develop best practice for the retrofit of traditional buildings. As well as expanding HES’s technical research capabilities, the centre will focus on delivery of training and innovation in the use of low-carbon retrofit materials.

Retrofit of Traditional Buildings

The Retrofit lab will support the development of bespoke solutions. Standard retrofit interventions used in modern buildings are often inappropriate for traditional properties. They require specific approaches to heat, moisture and airflow.

Dr David Mitchell, Director of Cultural Assets at HES, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome this funding, which will mark a step-change in our work to help improve the energy efficiency of traditional buildings.

“There is no route to net zero without viewing existing buildings as assets and ensuring we have a sound base on which to make retrofit work for both the buildings and the occupants. Without this understanding and expertise we could negatively impact the health of both buildings and occupants.

“The Retrofit lab will help us meet our objectives by enabling us to expand and enhance our research and training capacity. Collaboration will be key to our approach, from academic and commercial partners to local authorities and third sector organisations, as we work together to build best practice and develop the technical skills traditional building retrofit requires.”

Public Support

The announcement of the new national centre for traditional building retrofit comes as a recent survey by HES revealed strong public support for retrofitting traditional buildings. Results ranked retrofit as one of the top measures for achieving net-zero targets by 2045. Most survey respondents (90%) indicated that green mortgages would incentivise them to retrofit.

Dr Mitchell added: “People want to live in traditional properties and are becoming increasingly informed about using the correct skills and materials. We want owners to see past the ‘snake oil’ instant solutions appearing on the market and understand the benefits of traditional solutions combined with good science.”

Heating buildings currently accounts for around 30% of the UK’s emissions, and meeting net zero targets will require emissions from building stock to fall 68% by 2030 compared to 1990.

In Scotland, traditional buildings –constructed before 1919 – constitute 18% of overall housing stock, 33% of retail space, 24% of office space and 41% of the spaces used by the public sector.

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