Case Studies
This page provides a selection of case studies demonstrating more sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices from both Heritage Declares signatories and from the wider heritage sector.
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Heritage Declares Signatories
Below are some examples of what our signatories – whether organisations or as individuals – have been doing to meet the points of the Declaration and play their part in tackling the climate and ecological emergency.
Restoration scheme achieves ambitious energy upgrades at Grade II listed Alfoxton Park
Heritage Consultants and Heritage Declares signatory Avalon Planning & Heritage worked alongside eco-retrofit specialists David Basak Architecture to help the Triratna Buddhist Order restore and convert the Alfoxton Park estate for use as a new retreat centre for Buddhism and meditation retreats.
The project involved a series of energy efficiency measures including the installation of air-source heat pumps, roof insulation and secondary glazing. Read more about the case study on our case studies profile.
Sustainability Upgrades to Grade II* Greenlands, Henley Business School
Heritage Declares signatory and volunteer, Emma Healey, led the Barton Willmore Heritage Team in assisting the University of Reading with their sustainability upgrade projects in some of the listed university buildings, including Grade II* listed, Greenlands.
The aim of the project was to create a more sustainable heating system which could more easily be controlled but also reduce the costs of heating the building and reduce its carbon footprint. Find out more about the project here.
Grosvenor Estate cottages, Cheshire: a benchmark project for heritage retrofit
Heritage Declares organisation signatory Donald Insalls Associates in collaboration with major landowners The Grosvenor Estate has been working on a benchmark retrofit project. A Grosvenor-owned property on a rural estate in Cheshire, comprising a pair of red-brick semi-detached cottages built in 1896, is being used as the test-bed for a ‘whole house’ approach to sustainability-led retrofit.
Find out more about the project here.
Low Carbon Adaptation of Agricultural Buildings in West Dorset
Heritage Declares signatory and volunteer, James Verner, has designed the adaptation of two unused, adjacent agricultural barns on a farmstead in West Dorset for reuse as a single residential dwelling with office space and a space for social gatherings.
The aim of the project was to provide a viable use for two redundant agricultural buildings with the minimum embodied and operational carbon emissions. Find out more about the project here.
Other Case Studies from the Heritage Sector
More examples from others in the Heritage sector of how organisations and individual are changing practice in the face of climate change.
SPAB case study on Air Source Heat Pumps and PV Panels
SPAB have published a useful case study on the proposals for Air Source Heat Pumps and Solar PV Panels at St Mary of the Annunciation, Beaminster. They have also shared the details of the proposals, the energy savings and their thoughts on the appropriateness of the proposals. Read more here.
Cambridge’s King’s College chapel to be fitted with solar panels
Cambridge City Council have approved the installation of 492 photovoltaic panels on the lead roof of the 15th century King’s College Chapel. The approval comes despite objections from Historic England and a recommendation for refusal by the city council planning officers.
The committee councillors argued that the approval on such a landmark building could promote change and show a commitment to achieving net zero, outweighing visual harm. Their installation will see 100% of the energy needs of the building met and a reduction of the college’s carbon emissions by more than 27 tonnes each year. Read more about the decision here.