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by Sean Hill on Jul 16, 2025
☉ In an era where buildings must do more with less – less carbon, less waste, less time – we find ourselves rethinking everything.
As architects and developers, we hold a responsibility that’s as exciting as it is weighty. With every decision, we shape the world not just as it is, but as it will be.
One of the biggest questions we get asked?
→ “Should we retrofit… or start again?”
At RISE, we’ve been helping clients answer this with equal parts pragmatism and vision. It’s not about being nostalgic. Nor is it about preserving the past at the cost of the future.
It’s about understanding the true value of what already exists – and knowing when and how to breathe new life into it.
Because sometimes, the most radical thing you can do… is not start from scratch.
A characterful brick building reimagined through retrofit by RISE Design Studio – preserving history while meeting contemporary standards of energy efficiency and comfort.
Why Retrofit Is Rising
Retrofit has moved beyond a niche sustainability trend. It’s now centre stage.
You see it in city centres and suburban corners alike – homes, schools, studios, community halls – each one being sensitively adapted to meet modern standards of comfort, performance and beauty.
Why now?
→ Because it makes sense.
→ Because it creates meaning.
→ Because the environmental clock is ticking, and the built environment is on the front line.
Retrofitting allows us to reduce construction costs, speed up programmes, and lower emissions – all while keeping the soul of a building intact.
Imagine the potential: A disused Victorian post office transformed into an airtight, low-energy co-working space, using its original structure as a thermal battery. Or a tired 1930s terrace adapted for intergenerational living, heated efficiently by an air-source heat pump and insulated with breathable wood fibre. All of this is achievable – and it’s happening now.
This isn’t greenwash. It’s intelligent, viable, and values-led development.
The Numbers Behind the Decision
Let’s talk economics – because we know that, for developers, numbers carry weight.
☉ Retrofitting can cost 40–60% less than demolition and new construction
☉ It typically takes far less time on site – meaning fewer delays, fewer risks, and faster returns
☉ Planning permissions are often easier and quicker to obtain
☉ Retrofitted buildings, particularly those with architectural merit, can command higher sale and rental values
But it’s not just about money. The material you’re preserving is often better than what you’d replace it with. Solid brick. Old-growth timber. Lime mortar. Stone thresholds. These materials are increasingly rare, often irreplaceable – and inherently low in embodied carbon.
By retaining and upgrading what’s already there, you’re making a smarter use of carbon, capital, and craftsmanship.
What Policy Now Demands
Across the UK, the planning conversation is changing. And fast.
London now mandates whole-life carbon assessments for major developments. Councils like Westminster and Camden have issued strong guidance encouraging retrofit-first strategies. The bar for demolition is getting higher, while the rewards for retention are becoming clearer.
☉ Developers are being asked to justify why they aren’t retaining existing structures
☉ Failure to do so could mean higher carbon offset payments
☉ Some boroughs are piloting fast-track planning processes for retrofit-led schemes
These aren’t vague suggestions – they are real-world levers shaping decision-making. As cities move towards Net Zero goals, retrofit will become not just a preferred path, but a required one.
Carbon: The Invisible Giant
When we talk about the carbon impact of buildings, most people picture boilers and radiators.
But operational energy is only half the story. The rest lies hidden in materials, transport, and construction processes. This is what we call embodied carbon – and it accounts for around 40–50% of a building’s total carbon footprint over its lifetime.
Demolishing a typical Victorian terrace releases roughly 80 tonnes of CO₂e before a single new brick is laid. And even if the replacement is highly efficient, it can take decades to ‘pay back’ that carbon cost.
Retrofit, on the other hand, preserves embodied carbon. It prevents waste. It avoids emissions. And when combined with thoughtful upgrades – such as triple-glazing, natural insulation, and airtightness – it can rival or even outperform new builds in overall sustainability.
How Retrofit Can Outperform New
We often hear: “Aren’t new builds more energy-efficient?”
And yes – if we only looked at operational performance, a new home built to Passivhaus standards will likely beat a 19th-century building. But when you account for the carbon cost of demolition and new construction, the picture shifts.
Retrofitted buildings, particularly those guided by Passivhaus EnerPHit standards or similar low-energy benchmarks, can achieve 70–90% reductions in heating demand – with a fraction of the embodied carbon.
And let’s not forget: older buildings often come with qualities we’ve since forgotten how to build.
☉ Deep window reveals that control sunlight
☉ High ceilings that allow heat to rise and air to circulate
☉ Thermal mass that moderates internal temperatures naturally
When we retrofit well, we’re not just upgrading performance – we’re unlocking inherent strengths and combining them with today’s best technologies.
Hidden Value: Character, Community, Continuity
Architecture isn’t just about walls and windows. It’s about people, memory, and identity.
The best retrofit projects don’t just reduce emissions – they enrich place.
☉ A derelict school becomes a thriving cultural hub
☉ A redundant commercial unit becomes net-zero family housing
☉ An overlooked block is turned into a low-energy community workspace
This is design that responds to need. That protects heritage. That reduces risk. That avoids the cookie-cutter approach and instead builds with nuance, texture and context.
In an age of climate anxiety and aesthetic fatigue, retrofit offers something rare: grounded, authentic architecture.
The Real-World Complexities
Let’s not sugar-coat it: retrofitting comes with challenges.
☉ Services may be outdated or non-existent
☉ Floor heights may not align with modern layouts
☉ Insulation needs may conflict with heritage restrictions
☉ Construction surprises are common – and can be costly
But these aren’t barriers – they’re design opportunities.
With the right approach, even the trickiest site can be turned into a triumph of sustainable adaptation. It’s about anticipating, phasing, testing and learning. And it’s about working with a team who has done it before.
When Rebuilding Still Makes Sense
Sometimes, a site needs a fresh start. The structure may be unsound. The layout unworkable. Or the carbon and cost calculations may simply not stack up.
But here’s the difference: a rebuild should be the exception, not the default.
☉ It should be justified by rigorous carbon modelling
☉ It should unlock significant new social or environmental value
☉ It should respond to site constraints that genuinely limit retrofit potential
We don’t believe in dogma. But we do believe in due diligence. That’s why we encourage our clients to explore retrofit first – and only pursue new builds when there’s clear, measurable benefit in doing so.
What the Future Looks Like
Retrofitting is about to get smarter, faster, and more beautiful.
☉ Transparent solar glazing that powers your lights
☉ AI systems that balance indoor air quality and heat retention
☉ Insulation materials made from agricultural waste
☉ Modular upgrades for easier phasing and scalability
The future of architecture lies not in novelty, but in reimagination.
And the same goes for education. We urgently need to retrofit the mindset of the next generation of designers – with more retrofit-focused curricula, hands-on training, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
What Can You Do?
If you’re a developer:
→ Factor in whole-life carbon at the outset
→ Engage with heritage consultants early
→ Work with architects who know retrofit inside out
If you’re a planner:
→ Push for retrofit-first where feasible
→ Incentivise the retention of characterful buildings
→ Provide clearer guidance and faster approval routes
If you’re an architect:
→ Share what works
→ Advocate for circular design
→ Learn the old ways and the new – and build the bridge between them
Ready to Lead the Change?
At RISE, we help our clients see buildings differently.
We don’t just design. We reimagine. We guide. We challenge assumptions. And we deliver buildings that are low in carbon and high in character – whether through careful retrofitting or intentional new-builds.
☉ If you’re wondering what’s possible for your next project…
☉ If you’re unsure whether to preserve or start anew…
☉ If you want to design with meaning, not just metrics…
→ Let’s talk. Let’s build what matters.
RISE Design Studio
Architects | Interior Designers | Low-Energy Experts
→ architects@risedesignstudio.co.uk
→ 020 3947 5886
Better buildings begin with better thinking.
Let’s shape what’s next.
