By Paul Homewood
h/t Ian Magness
Is nothing sacred to the Green Blob?
Historic England has changed its advice to encourage the installation of heat pumps on heritage properties for the first time.
The body, a main reference for councils considering planning applications, has written new advice on making heritage buildings more green.
It says systems such as heat pumps are “one of the best ways of enhancing an historic building’s energy efficiency”.
Historic England did not previously have specific advice on whether permission should be granted for heat pumps and solar panels on listed buildings, but said that it found that many councils were being overly cautious in their approach.
“It’s really important for historic buildings to continue to adapt to meet the requirements of society as policy and personal tastes change,” said Ian Morrison, director of policy and evidence at Heritage England.
Heat pumps work like a fridge in reverse by taking energy from the ground or the air and compressing it to heat water in radiators and taps.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/07/22/historic-england-heat-pumps-heritage-homes/
“It’s really important for historic buildings to continue to adapt to meet the requirements of society”? There is only one reason why we have special rules for historic buildings – that is maintain them as far as reasonably practical in their original condition.
This commenter sums it up very well:
It’s really important for historic buildings to continue to adapt to meet the requirements of society as policy and personal tastes change,” ???
That is NOT the view of any conservation officer I have spoken to. I guess they didn’t get the message. Legislation was proposed 12 years ago to make it easier to maintain and modernise heritage homes It also proposed a list permitted things for the area around he main Heritage building . Nothing happened. Maybe Heritage England could do something active and come up with a proper permitted development guide for things that could be done without spending a lot of money and having to spend 12 months ‘discussing’ with your conservation department. It would help to save these buildings that are gradually declining now.
Heat pumps — in heritage buildings ? — the reason they were not considered appropriate (14 years ago you couldn’t get a grant for them either ) was that heritage buildings cannot have things like heated floors retro fitted and sometimes even radiators fitted. The insulation requirements for an efficient heat pump cannot be met either. Many of these houses are single glazed and ‘secondary glazing is not good enough. Windows are not the only source of failed insulation – thin walls (can’t be clad for example). – gaps in timberframe buildings , doors , lofts etc. etc. The cost with the planning, conservation, studies , permissions , architects, specialist builders, conservation officers oversight would be huge even if you could do it. The pump in a heritage house will never heat the house enough and will spend 24 hours a day trying. The circulating water never gets hot enough for that quick hour in the morning either. You would lose a LOT of money each month and still have a cold house.