Energy Efficiency: Demolition

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The Chartered Institute of Building states that 50% of global resources go into the construction industry and ODPM publication The Role of Historic Buildings in Urban Regeneration (PDF 832KB) (2004) advises that 24% of all waste is generated by demolition and construction.

IHBC ‘Valuing Historic Places’ (PDF 78KB).The conservation and refurbishment of historic buildings is an intrinsically sustainable form of development, avoiding the use and waste of scarce resources associated with demolition and redevelopment, and helping to achieve sustainable growth. For a full range of benefits of the historic environment see the linked document.

Government Pathfinder Scheme

The official stance:

The Sustainable Communities Plan, published on 5 February 2003, provides the Government framework for a major programme of action that will, over the next 15–20 years, tackle the pressing problems of communities across England. Over a 10- to 15-year timeframe, the schemes will involve radical and sustained action to replace obsolete housing with modern sustainable accommodation, through demolition, refurbishment and new building.

Quality in design of new housing will play an important part in turning around these areas and pathfinders are working closely with CABE. Plans should utilise the local heritage and Pathfinders are working with experts such as English Heritage and local groups to ensure that they identify the aspects of their built environment that give it character and history.

The criticisms:

SPAB in Cornerstone 27, 4, 2006 page 1. “Many historic buildings have a higher thermal mass than modern ones, maintaining more even temperatures. They will also probably last longer – a critical issue when you look at the energy issues raised over the lifetime of a building. The Government’s pigheaded, needless destruction of hundreds of older buildings under its Pathfinder schemes fails to take this into account.”

Campaign to Protect Rural England: Regenerating Housing – Should We Refurbish Housing Stock or Redevelop? A discussion document August 2005 (PDF 180KB). Are the Pathfinders going to deliver communities people want to live in? Are they going to take account of what local residents want and so gain support? Are they going to protect our environment and heritage?