Mace is calling for industry and government to adopt a presumption in favor of retrofitting and a requirement that explanations be given for proposals to demolish non-domestic buildings.
In a new report, the contractor and consultancy call for “modernization consideration” for every major planning application that involves demolishing the building.
Last year, Communities Secretary Michael Gove ordered a public inquiry into the demolition of Marks & Spencer’s Oxford Street store over concerns about the environmental impact of the demolition rather than the reconstruction of the site.
Mace says in his report that his consideration of the modernization measure would result in fewer schemes being brought to a sudden halt in the future, providing more certainty for developers and the wider industry.
It also wants to promote the reuse and re-use of these buildings, which account for 13% of the UK’s building stock but 23% of building-related carbon emissions.
The report notes that demolition may be the best decision, such as when the existing building was poorly designed or does not meet safety standards. However, in explaining the need to demolish, there would be more certainty that sustainability had been considered.
Mace Consult chief executive Jason Millett said: “Policymakers have rightly often focused on modernization in the UK, but this has meant that public buildings and commercial
“With over 1.75 million non-domestic buildings in the UK, the vast majority of which were built before 1970, it is critical that this imbalance is addressed in order to pursue positive and sustainable change.”
Mace chief executive and chairman Mark Reynolds, who is also co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council, has previously called for a national modernization strategy and the abolition of VAT on modernization projects.
Bouygues UK CEO Rob Bradley said Construction news by 2021, the top-tier company was increasingly looking towards modernization rather than demolition and reconstruction as it aimed to reduce its own carbon emissions.
The report comes as a group of more than 100 companies from across the environment sector called on the government to reform the planning system to ensure it takes climate change and nature conservation into account in the dam of decisions
Developers, consultants and architects such as Aecom, BNP Paribas Real Estate and Max Fordham have signed a letter organized by the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC).
Louise Hutchins, UKGBC director of policy and public affairs, said: “By introducing a clear legal imperative for planning decisions at all levels to align with our climate change and environment laws, we can unlock huge investments and drive towards beautiful neighborhoods and low-carbon infrastructure the country urgently needs”.
