Local authorities already offer pre-app advice to inform Listed Building Consent applications. However, a standard pre-app usually requires a homeowner to have decided on the scope of works proposed. For retrofit, this can result in unsuitable energy efficiency measures being progressed, or in confusion about over different types of measures and when these might be applicable.

The introduction of a new Level 0 pre-app service does not require a proposal and is aimed at homeowners who are interested in improving the energy of their listed building but don’t know where to start. As part of the service, the Conservation Officer will attend a site visit and provide verbal and written advice on which measures might be suitable. By getting advice at the earliest stage, applicants can develop more suitable proposals and can submit a Listed Building Consent application with greater confidence.

Listed Building Champions are homeowners who received both a Service Level 0 pre-app from B&NES Council and an energy survey from BWCE. The provision of conservation and energy advice at the same time can inform proposals for consent that are more suitable from both perspectives.

In return for a deeply discounted service, Champions agreed to provide a public case study of their experience, to inspire others to sensitively retrofit listed buildings.

Nationally, 93% of listed building consent applications were approved during the second quarter of 2022[i]. Despite this, there is a widely circulating perception that listed building consent will be refused. In a recent survey by DESNZ, whilst there was support for the consent process to protect our heritage, 75% of respondents felt that it was a barrier to retrofit. We aim to counteract this perception through sharing the positive stories of Listed Building Champions and through our easily accessible videos and materials.

Landlord Champions received a heavy discount in return for sharing anonymous case studies. A Conservation Officer and energy assessor both visit the properties to advise on suitable measures, impact on the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and exemptions from the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) regulations. Listed buildings are not automatically exempt from the MEES requirement for rental properties to be EPC ‘E’ or above and there may be other local requirements e.g., in Bath and North East Somerset, Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) need to achieve an EPC ‘C’.

Working with Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Empty Property Service, we can offer energy and conservation advice on how to bring listed buildings back into use.  If you are the owner of a property that has been empty for six months and over, Bath & North East Somerset Council offers financial incentives and practical support, details can be found here or by contacting the Empty Property Officer directly: empty_properties@bathnes.gov.uk and 01225 396411.

‘Retrofit Coordinator’ is a new role in the built environment sector – a qualified professional who can commission and manage retrofit projects. After an energy survey, homeowners often need further support. Through Green Heritage Homes, BWCE can offer support to a limited number of households for example with developing a brief for works and getting quotes from trusted installers or heritage consultants. Please email us for more information: home.energy@bwce.coop.

Bath Preservation Trust (BPT) campaigns for and promotes the conservation, sustainable enhancement and celebration of the unique and historic City of Bath as a World Heritage Site. BPT has long been a champion for historic retrofit and through Green Heritage Homes, is offering free energy advice for its members who own listed buildings, testing the potential for heritage groups to reach different audiences. 

Our webinars give homeowners and professionals a grounding in how to approach listed building retrofit.

Spotlight Sessions are small group sessions with a short presentation from a Conservation Officer and energy expert, followed by the opportunity to ask questions where homeowners can get advice on their own homes.

As we add more renewable energy to the grid, the carbon emissions from operating our buildings reduces, and choosing retrofit measures with low embodied carbon becomes proportionally more important for tackling the climate crisis.

The natural, traditional materials that usually work best for listed building retrofit also often have the lowest embodied carbon. We want to make this benefit more visible as an additional motivation for sensitive retrofit. We do this firstly through a simple factsheet comparing the embodied carbon of different material options e.g., wood fibre board versus synthetic foam-based insulation. Secondly, we work with People Powered Retrofit to update their Home Retrofit Planner retrofit assessment tool (used by BWCE and other organisations) to calculate embodied carbon impact of retrofit measures alongside operational carbon impact.