About the project

The City of London is committed to reducing the carbon footprint of the Square Mile. Commercial buildings account for 65% of the City’s carbon emissions and it is crucial that we tackle these together with City workers, landlords and tenants.

Historic buildings make up a significant proportion of the City of London's built environment with more than 600 listed buildings and 27 conservation areas.  These buildings are a key part of the goal to reduce emissions in the Square Mile as well as adapting to a changing climate. To address this unique environment, we are embarking on the Historic Building Carbon Reduction and Climate Resilience Challenge and we need your help and involvement.

If you are involved in historic buildings in the City – as owners, tenants, architects, developers or contractors - we need to hear from you!  

We need to gather and share information from your experience and expertise. Tell us about the challenges you face and the actions you are taking, so we can together identify the most time and cost-effective solutions that best protect, enhance and sustain the value of your heritage asset.

With your input, this Challenge aims to empower owners and occupiers of historic buildings to make the adaptations needed to improve their resilience, value and efficacy in the face of rapid climate change.  The Challenge will produce a simple and engaging knowledge hub to share information, case studies and best-practice advice for making sensitive, impactful climate adaptations within listed buildings.

The City of London Corporation and Purcell, a leading architecture, heritage and master planning practice, are collaborating on the first phase of this Challenge which will run from January until the Spring of 2023.

This Historic Building Carbon Reduction and Climate Resilience Challenge is part of the City of London Corporation's Climate Action Strategy which supports the ambition of a net zero carbon Square Mile by 2040.