Owning it – The responsibility and opportunity

11/04/2025

Clare McCarty’s account of the first session of RSUA Conference, Architecture 2025: Reuse and Revitalise. You can purchase the recording of the session here.

The conference opened with three excellent presentations – all considering the re-use and revitalisation of buildings from different aspects.

Hilary McGrady – Director General of the National Trust (Cherishing our built heritage for all) spoke about the history of the National Trust and  their commitment not only to the preservation of buildings but also to open green spaces.  From 1 million members in the 1970s, it has grown to now having 5.5 million members. Hilary touched on how they have just launched a new roadmap with public benefit at the heart.  She spoke openly about the challenges the National Trust face, including accessibility, and shared the example of a project they have just invested £20 million in to. This investment went towards providing lifts and ramps on the property. Hilary also shared other examples of adaptation, how buildings under the Trust’s care celebrate diversity through organising programmes developed for young people and hosting Diwali events and climate adaptation including introducing solar and hydro energy. Going forward the National Trust will be also working in partnership with other property owners where their expertise can assist in finding beneficial uses.

Pete Boyle – Developer and CEO Argento (the ups and downs of developing old buildings) – spoke about his personal journey and the interest he developed in the re-use of old buildings.  As a retailer he needs ceilings, walls and floors to display products and discovered that restoring and embracing what was already there was much more interesting than covering everything up with plasterboard.  He spoke about the projects he has completed successfully including his family home, Ormiston House, which appeared in a BBC Documentary. Pete talked about the tipping point in terms of rental return required to make a project viable (target being 10% return). Belfast is currently the only viable location in Northern Ireland where preservation is purely market reliant.  Pete said that he seeks out tenants who respect the buildings and go on to shape them.

Sara Lynch – Head of Sustainability at Queen’s University (matching modern demands with an aging estate) – spoke about matching the demands of modern day learning with an ageing and in some cases historic estate of 270 buildings. Key for Queen’s is space optimisation and the student experience.  For this, buildings need to be modern and properly functional.  This requires a pro-active and agile approach.  The University has developed design principles which include its journey to net zero by 2040.  A current project at former Russel Court aims for Passivhaus principles, BREEAM v good and EnerPHiT  – all at a cost of £8.7m.

Key Points

1. Owners should be forced to maintain and improve old and heritage buildings. We need to encourage renting heritage buildings rather than building new.
2. Buildings need to find the right owners
3. Different departments need to work together ie Heritage and ECG.  Joined up approach which does not depend on the interpretation of individual Officers.  There needs to be a much speedier and more pragmatic approach to keep heritage buildings purposeful and not allowed to deteriorate.  Growing number of buildings are at risk (1100)
4. Suggest post project evaluation to understand why decisions take so long and seek to improve process going forward
5. Regulation needs to move with the times – status quo can change – public support should be encouraged and listened to
6.  Fiscal incentives are required to encourage re-use/ maintenance. This could be removing or equalising VAT, re-instating grant assistance, rates relief, waiving stamp duty etc. The market will not work without this.  Places such as Newry, Downpatrick, Strabane do not have the rental returns to leave it to the market and will lose some beautiful buildings without interventions.
7. How to maintain and develop skills in heritage building and new skills in green development/retrofit.  National Trust has an apprentice programme with 130 apprentices this year.  Queen’s also has opportunities.  Big issue for the construction industry generally.
8. Brownfield land Comission to be established 
9. Understand skills architects need on sustainability, retrofit, climate change.  Identify new skills required.
10. What is happening to Norwich Union House?
11. Politicians need to understand better how the built environment affects everyday lives.