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| Don't demolish old buildings, urge architects | Don't demolish old buildings, urge architects |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Footage of buildings being flattened in a noisy demolition may be a popular feature of local TV news reports, but architects say such structures should be protected - to fight climate change. | Footage of buildings being flattened in a noisy demolition may be a popular feature of local TV news reports, but architects say such structures should be protected - to fight climate change. |
| They say property owners should be incentivised to upgrade draughty buildings, not just knock them down. | They say property owners should be incentivised to upgrade draughty buildings, not just knock them down. |
| That is because so much carbon is emitted by creating the steel, cement and bricks for new buildings. | That is because so much carbon is emitted by creating the steel, cement and bricks for new buildings. |
| The campaign by the Architects’ Journal is backed by 14 Stirling Prize winners | The campaign by the Architects’ Journal is backed by 14 Stirling Prize winners |
| In the past there was a lot of debate about whether it was better for the climate to demolish an old energy-hungry building and build a well-insulated replacement. | In the past there was a lot of debate about whether it was better for the climate to demolish an old energy-hungry building and build a well-insulated replacement. |
| But this is now widely considered a serious mistake because of the amount of carbon emitted during the construction of the new building. | But this is now widely considered a serious mistake because of the amount of carbon emitted during the construction of the new building. |
| The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) estimates that 35% of the lifecycle carbon from a typical office development is emitted before the building is even opened. It says the figure for residential premises is 51%. | The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) estimates that 35% of the lifecycle carbon from a typical office development is emitted before the building is even opened. It says the figure for residential premises is 51%. |
| These calculations suggest it will be decades before some new buildings pay back their carbon debt by saving more emissions than they created - and these are decades when carbon must be sharply reduced. | These calculations suggest it will be decades before some new buildings pay back their carbon debt by saving more emissions than they created - and these are decades when carbon must be sharply reduced. |
| The Architects' Journal has now given evidence to the Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) on the difference between operational emissions from heating and cooling a building and embodied emissions from creating construction materials. | The Architects' Journal has now given evidence to the Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) on the difference between operational emissions from heating and cooling a building and embodied emissions from creating construction materials. |
| It wants the government to change the VAT rules which can make it cheaper to rebuild than to refurbish a standing building. | It wants the government to change the VAT rules which can make it cheaper to rebuild than to refurbish a standing building. |
| Architects' Journal editor Will Hurst said: “This staggering fact has only been properly grasped in the construction industry relatively recently. We’ve got to stop mindlessly pulling buildings down.” | Architects' Journal editor Will Hurst said: “This staggering fact has only been properly grasped in the construction industry relatively recently. We’ve got to stop mindlessly pulling buildings down.” |
| He said VAT on refurbishment, repair and maintenance should be cut from 20% to zero to match the typical rate for new-build. | He said VAT on refurbishment, repair and maintenance should be cut from 20% to zero to match the typical rate for new-build. |
| He continued: “It’s crazy that the government actually incentivises practices that create more carbon emissions. Also, if you avoid demolition you make carbon savings right now, which we really need. | He continued: “It’s crazy that the government actually incentivises practices that create more carbon emissions. Also, if you avoid demolition you make carbon savings right now, which we really need. |
| “In the past the government argued that the EU would forbid zero VAT on renovation – but they can't use that excuse now.” | “In the past the government argued that the EU would forbid zero VAT on renovation – but they can't use that excuse now.” |
| And Alex Green, from the British Property Federation, said that sometimes the different VAT level is the key factor in determining whether a building is felled or saved for a new purpose. | And Alex Green, from the British Property Federation, said that sometimes the different VAT level is the key factor in determining whether a building is felled or saved for a new purpose. |
| Treasury Minister Jesse Norman previously told MPs that property owners already benefit from a reduced VAT rate on residential construction under certain conditions. | Treasury Minister Jesse Norman previously told MPs that property owners already benefit from a reduced VAT rate on residential construction under certain conditions. |
| He said: “Going further would be very expensive: reducing VAT on all property renovation, repairs and improvements would cost the Exchequer approximately £6bn per year. | He said: “Going further would be very expensive: reducing VAT on all property renovation, repairs and improvements would cost the Exchequer approximately £6bn per year. |
| “The government has no plans to review the VAT treatment of construction.” | “The government has no plans to review the VAT treatment of construction.” |
| What’s more, ministers recently said they would ease planning rules for owners wanting to demolish offices and replace them with new-build homes. | What’s more, ministers recently said they would ease planning rules for owners wanting to demolish offices and replace them with new-build homes. |
| Mr Hurst has urged them to rethink that plan. He suggested the Treasury could raise the tax on new-build projects to compensate for tax reductions from refurbished buildings. | Mr Hurst has urged them to rethink that plan. He suggested the Treasury could raise the tax on new-build projects to compensate for tax reductions from refurbished buildings. |
| He also suggested planning guidance should create a bias toward refurbishment. | He also suggested planning guidance should create a bias toward refurbishment. |
| The Architects’ Journal evidence has been reviewed by the EAC. Its chair, Philip Dunne MP, told BBC News: “Prioritising retrofitting can offer huge benefits. | The Architects’ Journal evidence has been reviewed by the EAC. Its chair, Philip Dunne MP, told BBC News: “Prioritising retrofitting can offer huge benefits. |
| "It enhances energy efficiency and boosts skills and green jobs quickly in the UK. It will be a crucial component for us to move to a low carbon economy.” | "It enhances energy efficiency and boosts skills and green jobs quickly in the UK. It will be a crucial component for us to move to a low carbon economy.” |
| The EAC will report its findings on the issue in the coming months. | The EAC will report its findings on the issue in the coming months. |