Could heritage hold the key to solving the housing crisis?

This was a key topic at Heritage Day 2025, hosted by the Heritage Alliance at the Tower of London. The theme of this year’s event was ‘Heritage Creates’ which led panel discussions throughout the day on skills, solutions, enterprise, homes, stories, and communities.

All of which was referenced in the Heritage Alliance’s latest report, which explores the relationship between the heritage sector and the creative industries in England.

In attendance were our culture and heritage specialists Matthew Appleton, Paul West and James Wood, who were joined by industry professionals, building preservation trusts, and government members keen to shine a spotlight on the opportunities in the heritage sector.

Taking a particular interest in the ‘Heritage Creates Homes’ discussion, which was led by Ros Kerslake, Martin Hulse, Martin Prince-Parrott and Sarah Allan, the session explored how reusing heritage building stock could be a key factor in meeting the government’s 1.5 million housing targets.

Central to this discussion were the findings of Historic England’s New Homes from Vacant Historic Buildings report.

The research estimates that retrofitting underused historic buildings could provide between 560,000 and 670,000 new homes in England, presenting a compelling case for reuse over demolition. The challenge, however, lies in making this a reality.

The panel highlighted the need for local partnerships, pragmatic planning policies, and financial incentives to encourage the sustainable reuse of historic buildings.

They also discussed how the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is being reviewed to look at how it can be more supportive in addressing retrofitting existing historic buildings. Currently heritage is briefly mentioned in the NPPF, which requires expansion and more clarification on such a broad topic.

Planning challenges are also hindered by findings that only one third of Local Plans are in place throughout the country. The Local Plan is designed to guide decisions on future development proposals and addresses the needs and opportunities of the area.

The complexities of adapting heritage buildings for modern use often deter developers from taking this route, despite the fact that 8.5 million people in England currently lack access to the housing they need.

Local authority approaches and the balanced tactic, should be taken when some historic buildings are at significant risk or where much of their special historic character has already been lost.

Beyond housing, the discussions throughout Heritage Day reinforced our idea that heritage plays a key role in everyone's life, not only through stories of our past but also in helping us find solutions to the challenges we face today.

The event inspired the team by showcasing the possibilities within the sector, which goes beyond preserving the past to also shaping a more sustainable future.

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