Protecting heritage in a warming world

As much of the UK experiences another significant heatwave, it is becoming increasingly clear that climate change is no longer a future challenge. It is a present-day reality that is already affecting our buildings, our communities and the way we manage risk.

Just last week, we saw schools close due to unsafe learning conditions for pupils. Museums and cultural attractions have been forced to close, losing valuable income in what is considered their peak tourist season.

For those responsible for historic and heritage properties, the challenge is particularly complex. These buildings were designed for a different climate and often require careful planning to preserve their character.

Adaptations to these properties can no longer be postponed. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) is suggesting that air conditioning will become standard in care homes and hospitals within the next decade. Schools are also set to follow with the committee suggesting it will become mandatory in education settings within 25 years.

This raises an interesting challenge of how to make historic buildings fit for a warmer future without compromising the very heritage we seek to protect.

When discussions turn to air conditioning, there can sometimes be concerns that modern interventions are incompatible with historic architecture. The reality is more nuanced.

For many listed buildings, introducing cooling systems is not simply a technical exercise. It can be a complex process involving planners, conservation officers, heritage bodies and other interested stakeholders, all of whom have a legitimate role in protecting the significance and character of historic places or the building in question.

This can create a challenge as temperatures continue to rise and disrupt the current function of these buildings. There is a growing need to adapt these properties so they remain safe, functional and attractive places to live, work, learn and visit. Achieving that adaptation requires a willingness from all parties to engage with the realities of a changing climate.

The priority should always be understanding the building first. Historic structures behave differently from modern buildings. Thick masonry walls, high ceilings and traditional ventilation methods can provide valuable passive cooling benefits when managed effectively.

However, as temperatures continue to rise, passive measures alone may not always be sufficient, particularly in buildings occupied by vulnerable individuals.

Care homes, hospitals, schools and publicly accessible heritage sites face a growing duty of care to provide safe and comfortable environments. Excessive indoor temperatures can create significant health risks, particularly for older people, young children and those with underlying medical conditions.

Heritage buildings should not be preserved simply as monuments. To survive they need a purpose, to have a purpose they need to be occupied, and to be occupied they need to be safe and habitable in the climate of today and tomorrow.

Where cooling systems are required, modern technology can often provide lower-impact solutions. Advances in design mean external condensers can sometimes be discreetly screened, internal units sensitively positioned, and other cooling technologies integrated in ways that minimise impact on the historic fabric and appearance. However, these solutions often depend on securing the necessary approvals and reaching agreement on how best to balance conservation with occupation and public wellbeing. It’s always a good idea to speak to your insurer when planning work, as some changes can introduce new risk considerations you may need to be aware of.

The question should not be whether we protect heritage or people. We must do both.

An effective and often overlooked climate adaptation measure is strategic tree planting.

Trees can reduce local temperatures, provide valuable shading, protect outdoor spaces and improve the overall comfort of these spaces. They also deliver wider environmental benefits, including biodiversity enhancement, carbon capture and improved air quality.

For heritage properties, thoughtful landscape planning can become a crucial part of climate resilience strategy and one we support our customers with.

The key word is “strategic”. Poorly positioned trees can introduce new risks. However, when carefully selected and appropriately located, trees can become a highly effective natural cooling system that works in harmony with both the building and its historic setting.

Many historic estates and institutions are now reassessing their landscapes not simply as aesthetic features, but as part of a wider climate adaptation programme. In fact, at Ecclesiastical and the Benefact Group we have recently supported a large estate in the north of England to do just that. Like many large estates, Castle Howard is increasingly feeling the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. Wetter winters, hotter summers and declining species have placed pressure on its land, water systems and historic landscape. In response, the estate has adopted a more integrated approach to land management, focusing on improving water resilience and restoring plant and tree health through initiatives such as regenerative farming and habitat restoration.

Perhaps the greatest risk facing heritage buildings today is assuming that past approaches will continue to be sufficient.

Extended periods of high temperatures can lead to material degradation, accelerated ageing of roofing, and damage to interior finishes.

There are operational risks too. Buildings that become uncomfortable or unsafe during heatwaves may face reduced occupancy, increased maintenance costs, reputational challenges and, in some cases, regulatory scrutiny.

For organisations responsible for public buildings, there is also a growing expectation that climate risks are actively managed and documented.

Adaptation is no longer simply about climate resilience it is responsible governance.

The heritage sector has always adapted, however climate change presents another chapter in that story.

The challenge is not to freeze historic buildings in time, but to ensure they remain safe, functional and valued for generations to come.

That will require investment, innovation and a willingness from all stakeholders to embrace carefully considered change.

Whether through sympathetic cooling systems, strategic landscaping, improved ventilation or wider resilience planning, the decisions we make today will determine how our history weathers the decades ahead.

Our responsibility is clear. To protect both the heritage entrusted to us and the people who depend upon it.