26 Jan 2010
School buildings imbalance could impact energy efficiency
Catherine Diggle, Real Estate partner, Lawrence Graham LLP
Lawyers warn that plans to list more schools to secure their protection because of the replacement and refurbishment imbalance, could impact on energy efficiency measures. A recent survey by Building Design magazine found that 70% of completed projects had been new-build.
"English Heritage wants local education authorities to refurbish rather than replace old school buildings, so more schools are likely to be listed. Whilst it is true that listing will make demolition very unlikely, it will also make repairs, improvements and energy efficiency measures more difficult and costly. Listing is a blunt tool which will delay and, in some cases, prevent necessary repairs and sensible improvements to our existing schools," said Catherine Diggle, a real estate partner at international business law firm Lawrence Graham LLP (LG).
Catherine added: "It is always harder and more expensive to make listed buildings energy efficient. This step will not help achieve the UK's objective to reduce its carbon emissions."