Preserving the past, building the future: how new approaches to London’s heritage benefit the nation

London has been an iconic destination for generations. However, the capital is facing significant economic, social, and environmental challenges that are intrinsically linked to the built environment. Evolving consumer needs and the lasting impact of the pandemic have changed the way we use our cities, with the huge increase in hybrid workers and growing demand for an experiential high street just two examples of the need for diverse, accessible, inclusive and flexible urban spaces.

Future-proofing our heritage

One of London’s major advantages is its historic buildings and districts. According to research from London & Partners, the city’s architecture and iconic landmarks are the second most popular reasons for tourists to visit the capital after the unparalleled cultural experience on offer. Yet, if we are to create a resilient and modern city for the future, we must address the significant challenges that many of these buildings present – from sustainable energy systems to future-proofed exteriors and facades. As cities worldwide reevaluate how they use and interact with the urban built environment, the role of these heritage buildings in shaping the future of London has become more critical than ever.

It is not just about preserving heritage buildings but also ensuring that they fit modern needs. Many of these buildings face challenges when it comes to energy efficiency and conservation, requiring innovative approaches to decarbonisation that simultaneously respect their historical significance. As an industry, we have a responsibility to act as guardians to these buildings, both through repairs and maintenance, in addition to looking at ways to increase energy efficiency and investing in green spaces in city centres.

Initiatives such as The Crown Estate’s Partnership with Wild West End offers a prime example of how we can future-proof this historic city. Through the addition of 3,000 square metres of green space in central London including green walls, green roofs and street planters around Regent Street and St James’s, we can effectively implement nature recovery in the most central of urban environments. We have taken this a step further across Regent Street, working with Westminster City Council to enhance the public realm and engaged with the wider community over the summer to shape our long-term plans.

Investing in our places

The preservation of London’s built environment will be central to the capital’s green transition, creating a sustainable city that benefits locals, visitors and businesses alike. This transition goes beyond strictly environmental improvements and necessitates a focus on social inclusion and accessibility. If we are to drive broader sustainability then we must create more attractive, welcoming, cleaner, less polluted and more resilient places that work for all visitors to the West End.

Making these changes can be a challenge for our iconic heritage buildings – assets that are synonymous with the neoclassical and picturesque styles of John Nash. So, we are making a significant investment – £250m over the next five years – in our built fabric across the capital to ensure that London and the nation’s heritage can be preserved and improved.

To deliver on this investment, we need the right people in place. Alongside our partners at Grosvenor, Peabody, Historic England and The National Trust, we commissioned a report last year to identify how we can tackle this challenge. Our findings overwhelmingly pointed to a key requirement – investing significantly in skilled workers. We found that we need 205,000 workers to focus solely on retrofitting historic buildings every year until 2050 to meet our national net zero targets. This is more than double the number of workers that we estimate currently have the requisite skills to align two vital aspects of our built environment: heritage and sustainability.

But while this is a weighty challenge, it also presents an enormous opportunity for the country. Our findings suggest that an upskilled workforce would support around 290,000 jobs and generate £35bn of output every year.

Investing in heritage buildings and training workers in sustainable conservation will be critical to future growth, allowing us to establish connected and thriving destinations that celebrate London’s history whilst creating a relevant, sustainable and attractive city for the future.

Looking ahead

Conserving our historic buildings and the wider built environment is not only important for the cultural heritage of a city, it is central to our drive towards net zero across the entire nation. The way we use our urban spaces will be critical in tackling this challenge, while addressing growth, inclusion, accessibility and diversity in all its forms. The built environment has the potential to be the cornerstone of a city’s renaissance – enhancing our national heritage and safeguarding prosperity for future generations.