Change the rules on conserving listed buildings to keep our history alive

By Tony Barton2021-03-25T06:00:00

Listed buildings risk being stranded in the zero‐carbon economy, so we need a flexible approach to meet the challenge of improving them, writes Tony Barton

We are sleepwalking into a crisis that threatens one of the world’s greatest cultural collections – the UK’s historic buildings. The necessary reaction to the climate emergency will result in redundancy for our listed buildings unless there is urgent and creative action.

Our built heritage is truly as important to us as the paintings and sculptures in the National Gallery. Our history is embedded in masonry and timber – literally cut in stone – but, unlike other cultural collections, the very artefacts must adapt to the ever‐changing needs of the populations who inhabit, enjoy and use them.

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