Policy GP/CC: Adapting heritage assets to climate change

1. Proposals for energy efficiency improvements and climate resilience adaptations that do not harm a heritage asset’s significance, setting, fabric or ongoing preservation, as informed by an assessment of the building’s fabric and robust technical detailing, will be supported. Where a proposal has the potential to harm the fabric of a listed building, such proposals must be supported and informed by a thorough understanding of the building’s historic evolution and construction, architectural and historic significance, and a demonstration of the building’s current fabric and energy performance. 

2. Where appropriate, retrofit proposals shall be designed to satisfy the standards set out within the BSI PAS 2035 (2023) framework (or successor documents). 

3. Proposals that seek to undo the damage to a heritage asset caused by previous, inappropriate interventions will be supported in principle. 

4. Proposals that seek to reinstate historic features that can enhance a heritage asset’s climate resilience (such as shutters) will be supported. 

5. Monitoring requirements will be proportionate to the significance of the heritage asset and the scale of the works proposed. 

The Greater Cambridge Net Zero Carbon Study (2021) identifies that existing buildings account for one third of all greenhouse gas emissions in

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

. While energy efficiency standards have been introduced for new homes, we cannot meet our climate change targets without reducing emissions and energy use in all our homes and buildings. Improving energy efficiency is not only good for the climate, but it will also reduce running costs and increase the lifespan of buildings.

Nationally, roughly 20% of our homes were built before 1919, using traditional timber- frame or solid wall construction methods and materials. Of this 20%, around 1% of homes in Cambridge and 3% in South Cambridgeshire are listed buildings. Maintaining the buildings we use is a powerful climate action as it ‘locks in’ the carbon used to build these in the first place, aligning with the circular economy to reduce waste and avoidable carbon emissions. The Climate Change Committee concluded that at least 90% of the existing buildings in the UK should have energy efficient retrofits for the UK to meet its zero carbon targets, recognising that some buildings simply cannot be adapted to eliminate all emissions. 

Acceptable interventions and works will vary depending on the impact on the significance of the heritage asset in question. Where works would harm the building’s integrity or significance, that harm will be weighed against the public benefits of the proposal. Heritage Impact Assessments will need to assess the impacts of proposed works and detail clear and convincing public benefits. Depending on the nature of the works proposed, a planning application may also require the following information: 

• Surveys of existing construction, to include walls, floors, ceilings and roofs; 
• Submission of baseline energy consumption data before improvements have taken place and energy efficiency modelling; 
• The national or industry performance standards being targeted and the environmental performance measures to be implemented in order to achieve the standard. 

Historic England publishes a guidance detailing how energy efficiency improvements to historic buildings can be carried out without compromising their significance. While this policy covers heritage assets, similar principles should be applied to all buildings of traditional construction. Reference to the following publications, and any successor documents, is recommended: 

• Energy efficiency and traditional homes, HEAN 14 
• Energy Efficiency and Historic Buildings: How to Improve Energy Efficiency 
• Energy Efficiency and Historic Buildings: Energy Performance Certificates 
• Modifying Historic Windows as Part of Retrofitting Energy-Saving Measures 
• Energy Efficiency and Historic Buildings – Application of Part L of the Building Regulations to historically and traditionally constructed buildings 
• Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency HEAN 18 

For applications that have the potential to impact the fabric of a heritage asset, the Local Planning Authorities may require a programme of ongoing monitoring in the form of a Building Monitoring and Management Strategy to ensure impacts can be appropriately managed. Monitoring requirements will be proportionate to the scale of the works proposed. Planning conditions will also be used to secure appropriate remediation works where monitoring shows that interventions are causing harm to the significance of the asset. The Local Planning Authorities will expect retrofit works to be carried out in accordance with the BSI PAS 2035 (2023) framework (or successor documents) and Historic England guidance for energy improvements to heritage assets. 

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

  : Topic Paper 2: Climate Change

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

  : Topic Paper 5: Great Places

We will consider all comments while developing the next version of the

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

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All comments must be received by 30 January 2026 at 5pm.