Heritage practice Purcell worked on guide explaining how heritage assets can be retrofitted responsibly

The City of London has launched an initiative explaining how heritage buildings can be adapted to reduce their carbon emissions.

The Heritage 黑洞社区s Retrofit Toolkit was unveiled today at the Merchant Taylors鈥� Hall on Threadneedle Street at an event which included speakers from Historic England and the Museum of London.

Retroftting the City event - credit Paul Clarke photography

Shravan Joshi speaking at today鈥檚 event at the Merchant Taylors鈥� Hall

Created with the support of heritage practice Purcell, it consists of a nine-step methodology seeking to enable building owners to start the 鈥渞esponsible retrofit鈥� of their assets, including building a business case.

There are more than 600 listed buildings in the Square Mile, 28 conservation areas, 48 scheduled monuments and four historic parks and gardens.

The Corporation, which has committed to making the City net zero by 2040, said its heritage structures pose a 鈥渟ignificant鈥� challenge given the diverse range of buildings and their specific planning and conservation considerations.

>> See also: City formally approves plan to build 1.2 million sq m of office space by 2040

Shravan Joshi, chairman of the City of London Corporation鈥檚 planning and transportation committee, said it was vital to secure a sustainable future for the City鈥檚 historic environment. 

鈥淥ur ability to adapt our heritage buildings depends on developing a common understanding and promoting good practice of what can be achieved,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his toolkit provides a structured approach to such collaboration.鈥�

The council鈥檚 climate action policy lead Alderman Alison Gowman added: 鈥淎t the City Corporation we recognise that an important part of conserving our heritage buildings is ensuring they are fit for the future.  

鈥淭his means making them as energy efficient as possible, reducing their carbon emissions and adapting them to changes to the climate.  

鈥淭his toolkit provides a structured process for pursuing these actions, drawing on latest guidance and good practice.鈥�

The launch of the toolkit comes two weeks after the council formally approved its plan to build 1.2 million sq m of office space over the next 16 years under its City Plan 2040.

The document sets out how the district will become a seven-day-a-week cultural and leisure destination while keeping on track with its carbon reduction targets.

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