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Bath Preservation Trust and the Centre for Sustainable Energy PRESSING FOR CHANGE Local views on insulation in listed buildings in Bath The following results describe the extent to which Bath residents who responded to our online survey agreed with the given policy options for listed buildings. These results do not describe current Council policy. 48 Insulating suspended timber floors Two thirds of Bath respondents supported the use of insulation beneath the suspended timber floors of listed buildings in the city. 66% The installation of ground floor insulation under suspended timber floors should be permitted in all listed buildings in Bath. 31% The installation of ground floor insulation under suspended timber floors should be permitted in all listed buildings in Bath except where significant historic floorboards have to be removed and reinstated. 3% The installation of ground floor insulation under suspended timber floors should not be permitted in any listed building Bath where this involves the removal and reinstatement of floorboards. 1% None of the above. Among respondents who live in listed buildings in Bath, 66% supported the use of insulation beneath suspended timber floors of listed buildings in Bath. Bath Preservation Trust position The Trust supports the installation of ground floor insulation under suspended timber floors in the listed buildings of Bath except where significant historic floorboards have to be lifted. Insulating solid floors A majority of Bath respondents supported the use of insulation beneath the solid floors of listed buildings in the city. 56% The installation of insulation under solid floors should be permitted in all listed building in Bath. 39% The installation of insulation under solid floors should be permitted in all listed building in Bath except where significant historic floors have to be lifted. 3% The installation of insulation under solid floors should not be permitted in any listed building in Bath. 2% None of the above. Among respondents who live in listed buildings in Bath, 57% supported the installation of insulation under solid floors in all listed building in Bath. Bath Preservation Trust position The Trust supports the installation of ground floor insulation under solid floors in the listed buildings of Bath except where significant historic floors are in place. Solid wall insulation: external Although most Bath residents want to protect the front facades of listed buildings in the city, a majority support the use of external insulation on secondary facades, at least where the wall is already rendered or has a history of being rendered. 15% The installation of external solid wall insulation should be permitted on all facades of all listed buildings in Bath. 26% The installation of external solid wall insulation should be permitted on the secondary facades of all listed buildings in Bath. 28% The installation of external solid wall insulation should be permitted on the secondary facades of all listed buildings in Bath where the wall is rendered or where there is evidence that the wall was once rendered. 26% The installation of external solid wall insulation should not be permitted on listed buildings in Bath. 4% None of the above. Among residents who live in listed buildings in Bath, 57% supported the use of external insulation on secondary facades, though 21% felt this is only acceptable where the wall is already rendered or has a history of being rendered. Bath Preservation Trust position The Trust only supports the installation of external solid wall insulation in listed buildings in Bath on secondary facades which are, or have been, rendered. Solid wall insulation: internal The great majority (87%) of Bath respondents supported the use of internal wall insulation in the city’s listed buildings on walls which have no important historic features, including 27% who supported the use of insulation on all internal walls. 27% The installation of internal solid wall insulation should be permitted in all listed buildings in Bath. 60% The installation of internal solid wall insulation
Improving the energy efficiency of traditional homes in the City of Bath should be permitted in any listed building in Bath where the wall has no important historic features. 10% The installation of internal solid wall insulation should not be permitted in listed buildings in Bath. 4% None of the above. Among respondents who live in listed buildings in Bath, 85% supported the use of internal wall insulation in the city’s listed buildings on walls which have no important historic features, including 28% who supported the use of insulation on all internal walls. Bath Preservation Trust position The Trust supports the installation of internal solid wall insulation in listed buildings in Bath as long as there is no impact on important historic features. Reflective panels for radiators Even if wall insulation is out of the question in your home, consider installing reflective panels behind your radiators. These reflect the heat back into your room and prevent the walls from soaking up the heat. This is especially important for radiators that are attached to the inside of exterior walls. Radiator panels are cheap, effective and easy to install. They can be bought from major DIY stores or online. Planning and building control Listed buildings Loft insulation can be installed in listed buildings without consent as long as the insulation is in no way adhesive and can be removed without any damage to the building fabric. Tile vents do not require consent if the character of the listed building is unaltered. If you have a suspended timber floor and you can only insulate your ground floor from above, you will need listed building consent to take the floorboards up. If your floorboards and skirting boards are original and of historic interest, you may not get consent. If you have solid floors, you will need listed building consent if you want to add insulation over or under the floors. If the floors are original, you may be more likely to gain consent if you add insulation over the floor, minimising impacts on the original fabric. Both the exterior and interior walls define the character of listed buildings so you must seek listed building consent for any project involving wall insulation. Exterior wall insulation is likely to be refused as it is considered to be too damaging to the character and integrity of the building. However, you could make a case if the wall is, or has been, rendered and you plan to finish the new wall surface in a comparable lime render. Interior wall insulation is likely to be refused if it compromises the proportions of a room or affects historic features such as mouldings. However, many listed buildings in Bath have seen major changes to their interior fabric and proportions over their history. Where this has happened, there may be opportunities for renovation and renewal which could potentially include the installation of wall insulation. You do not need listed building consent to install reflective panels behind your radiators. Other traditional buildings If you live in an unlisted building in the World Heritage Site, you do not need planning permission to install insulation unless you are insulating the outside of the building. To improve your chances of getting permission for exterior wall insulation, use a finish which is appropriate for the traditional construction and sympathetic to the surrounding houses and street. A lime render finish painted the colour of Bath stone may be suitable. If you can afford to, you could even clad the new wall in Bath stone. Building regulations Building Regulation approval is not required for the installation of insulation in a roof space. The installation of insulation on an external wall, or on or under a floor which is exposed to either the ground or the outside air, will require Building Regulation approval if the area to be renovated is greater than 50% of the surface of that individual element. Certain classes of traditional buildings maybe exempt from the energy efficiency requirements of the regulations or special considerations may apply which permit a lesser standard of insulation to be acceptable. * English Heritage: Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings: Insulating solid walls, 2010. 49
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