By Mark Flanagan, managing director, Ventrolla.

The current worldwide geopolitical landscape has many people across the UK concerned about the ongoing volatility of energy costs and the overall efficiency of their homes, and those who own heritage properties are no different.

Rising costs, ongoing fluctuations, and increasing uncertainty – paired with the push towards the UK’s ambitious net-zero 2050 target – means homeowners must look at ways to enhance the energy efficiency of their property.

In heritage, historic and listed buildings, enhancements can be more difficult to implement. Whilst these properties hold key architectural significance, it is vital that the planning and preservation restrictions are held to a reasonable level to ensure the properties can be brought up to modern standards in terms of energy efficiency expectations. Achieving the right balance between preservation and improvement has never been more important, both for the industry and homeowners.

The UK is well known to have one of the largest stocks of period properties in Europe, with Historic England reporting that there are over 400,000 listed properties and almost 10,000 conservation areas across England. These properties are protected by strict planning regulations that often restrict or prohibit works being done to the fabric of the building. Although the industry guidance is clear, the interpretation of that guidance still differs across regions and councils, creating uncertainty and inconsistency for homeowners and contractors alike.

The key to improving energy efficiency in heritage properties lies in sympathetic retrofit and restoration, helping to preserve the original appearance and fabric of the building whilst integrating and implementing modern efficiency improvements.

One example of such improvements is the award-winning Ventrolla Perimeter Sealing System (VPSS), a draught-proofing technology that creates an effective barrier against cold air and draughts entering a property, while also preventing heat from escaping. Not only does this technology improve the Window Energy Rating (WER) by up to 30%, it is also recognised by planning authorities and conservation officers, and conforms to BS 7386:1997, BS EN 12207:2000 and BS 6375-1:2009 Class 3.

Alongside this, the Sash Removal System (SRS) can also be fitted to make ongoing maintenance safer, easier and less disruptive.

Completing these upgrades is about more than meeting net zero carbon targets, it is about improving the overall efficiency of a property to help reduce associated costs and making the property more affordable to run. Something that could not be more relevant today. Homeowners are experiencing sustained increases in energy prices, and whilst many are protected until later in the year, global supply pressures and geopolitical instability are likely to continue having knock-on effects. As costs rise, improving the efficiency of these properties has become more than a sustainability priority, it is now an economic necessity.

Alongside energy efficiency improvements to properties, an education exercise is needed across the industry and with the wider public. There are still many misconceptions around the enhancements that can be made to heritage properties, and the depth of regulations and requirements tied to them. A unified approach to planning rules and regulations is needed, with guidance that is simple to read and interpret, to ensure those in the industry and homeowners themselves can move forward with enhancements in an informed way.

Misconceptions can cause delays and frustration, especially when works that are approved in one region are then denied in another. Although this will require significant effort upfront, it will certainly pay off in the long term when both industry professionals and the wider public know what to expect when looking to implement changes. Clearer, more consistent guidance would also support planning authorities by reducing the burden of repeated case-by-case interpretation.

Ultimately, investing in thoughtful and sympathetic restoration can help to ensure heritage properties remain both sustainable and viable places to live and work. In the face of ongoing energy challenges and climate targets, the preservation of these properties through careful, considered performance-led upgrades can help to create a practical path forward, protecting cultural heritage while adapting it for a more energy-conscious future.

Heritage homes are there to be lived in and loved, and that should be possible without sacrificing either history or efficiency.