Retention not demolition: How heritage thinking can inform carbon reduction

Baker, Hannah; Moncaster, Alice; Remøy, Hilde; Wilkinson, Sara

Abstract

Two key benefits of building retention and adaptation, over demolition and new build are identified in the academic literature as: the conservation of heritage, and reductions in embodied greenhouse gas emissions from construction materials. A four-year research project, including expert interviews, focus groups and three detailed case studies, developed extensive data on how these benefits are considered in decisions to demolish or retain buildings within larger urban development sites. The research found that heritage and embodied impacts are considered quite differently. Heritage is frequently a key driver towards retaining individual buildings, whilstembodied emissions are rarely key considerations. Where there are insufficient arguments based on heritage value, many buildings are therefore demolished and replaced rather than retained. To reduce the impact of construction on the environment it is crucial that we calculate the embodied as well as operational impacts of demolition decisions and retain and refurbish buildings where this is the lower carbon choice. Using heritage arguments as a basis, this paper proposes that the introduction of policy drivers for retention and against demolition, and the conversion of environmental value into economic uplift, are likely to be necessary conditions to encourage the retention of buildings for lower whole life carbon.

Citation

Baker, H., Moncaster, A., Remøy, H., & Wilkinson, S. (2021). Retention not demolition: How heritage thinking can inform carbon reduction. Journal of Architectural Conservation, 27(3), 176-194. https://doi.org/10.1080/13556207.2021.1948239

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 23, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jul 10, 2021
• Publication Date: Jul 10, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jul 17, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 19, 2023
• Journal: Journal of Architectural Conservation
• Print ISSN: 1355-6207
• Electronic ISSN: 2326-6384
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 176-194
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13556207.2021.1948239
• Keywords: Heritage conservation, heritage value, embodied carbon, greenhouse gas, adaptation
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10938544
• Related Public URLs: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/items/e5d43e44-8087-4f03-a30a-247d26a51550