IHBC’s new edition of its members’ journal Context is out – No. 185 – and our first spotlight for NewsBlog readers features Morwenna Slade on ‘Successful solar generation in the historic environment’.
The IHBC writes:
With listed buildings and historic sites needing to adapt for positive climate action, achieving consent and managing risk depends on understanding each site in detail.
Morwenna Slade writes:
The UK’s historic built environment stands testament to sustainable, often innovative, and resilient adaptation through the ages. That solar generation can be successfully installed on historic and listed buildings has been proven, but as we see greater numbers of installations, we need to consider the implications for asset management, maintenance and fire safety. These broader, longer-term considerations go beyond the visual and aesthetic impact balanced with significance and should be addressed to ensure a truly successful and sustainable approach that supports the continued use and care of our heritage.
In a critical step towards busting the myths that surround sensitively and successfully adapt- ing our listed buildings, a swath of new advice and guidance has been published by Historic England, CADW and Historic Environment Scotland, highlighting how listed buildings can and should evolve to actively contribute to positive climate action. Aimed at a professional and technical audience, the guidance supports professionals and owners alike to competently assess the most impactful measures for individual buildings and meet their requirements.
It is important, however, for heritage professionals not to assume that one mitigation or adaptation measure fits all situations
…
Listed buildings and historic sites can and should evolve to accommodate modern requirements and adapt for positive climate action, but success lies in understanding the individual detail of these sites. Taking a holistic approach, considering positive and negative impacts, and ensuring the long-term costs and maintenance requirements of new installations are fully understood and scoped, will ensure that consent is achieved, risk is managed, and our heritage continues to benefit future generations…
…Morwenna Slade is a building surveyor and visiting professor at the University of the West of England. She specialises in historic building conservation, defect diagnosis, climate-change resilience and adaptation.
Context 185: CONTENTS
Themed Articles
- Editorial
- Understanding pitched roofs, Madeleine Clark
- A code of practice for slate and stone roofing, Chris Wood
- Reslating an ancient water mill, Terry Hughes
- A carbon case for indigenous slate, Soki Rhee-Duverne and Jim Hart
- Successful solar generation in the historic environment, Morwenna Slade
- Sourcing Scottish slate in the 21st century, Imogen Shaw and Graham Briggs
- The roofscape of Hampstead Garden Suburb, Joe Mathieson
Feature Articles
- Conserving the postmodern legacy of the Sainsbury Wing, Alasdair Travers and Jon Wright
- The sad story of Derby Hippodrome, Derek Latham, Peter Steer and Ashley Waterhouse
Regular & Occasional features & updates
- Briefing
- Out of Context
- Periodically
- The writer’s voice
- Letter
- Law and policy
- Vox pop
- Reviews
IHBC Updates
- IHBC celebrates World Heritage UK’s anniversary, Rebecca Thompson
- Notes from the chair
- Director’s cut
- Inter alia
- New member profile
- New members
Commercial
- Products and services
- Specialist suppliers index
Reading Context helps IHBC members develop their skills across all of the IHBC’s Areas of Competence, and so is a critical baseline in addressing priorities in Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Access the online archive and see the issue online
See more IHBC background and guidance on IHBC CPD and on how you might use past, current and future issues of Context
See the formal guidance paper on IHBC CPD (scheduled for update)
See more on the IHBC Competences and Areas of Competence
