Cultural & Heritage Sector Decarbonisation, 2025

Historic England & Arts Council Pilot Study

Cultural & Heritage Sector Decarbonisation Pilot
Shire Hall Museum, a Grade I listed 18th century courthouse in Dorchester ©Sally-Ann-Norman

Haworth Tompkins has been commissioned by Arts Council England and Historic England to lead a pilot study, supporting cultural & heritage sector decarbonisation. The study includes the development of best practice guidance that will support organisations across the cultural and heritage sectors to decarbonise their buildings, giving them an understanding of the process of preparing and implementing long-term Decarbonisation Plans.

Cultural & Heritage Sector Decarbonisation Pilot
The Lit & Phil, a Grade II* independent Library in Newcastle ©Shire Hall Museum

To help inform the production of the guidance, the team is working with three separate organisations to develop exemplar decarbonisation strategies for three case study buildings:

  • Shire Hall Museum, a Grade I listed 18th century courthouse in Dorchester
  • The Lit & Phil, a Grade II* independent Library in Newcastle
  • Royal and Derngate, a Grade II listed theatre complex in Northampton

The assessment of the buildings is underpinned by Historic England’s ‘Whole Building Approach’, and includes recommendations for targeted improvements to building fabric, services, and operations, as well as the development of a costed and prioritised roadmap to decarbonisation.

Cultural & Heritage Sector Decarbonisation Pilot
Cultural & Heritage Sector Decarbonisation Pilot
Cultural & Heritage Sector Decarbonisation Pilot
Royal and Derngate, a Grade II listed theatre complex in Northampton

Alongside the case studies, we will be producing a series of publicly available fact sheets, process maps and templates to help support cultural and heritage organisations and the wider industry in the decarbonisation of sensitive and complex sites.

Address

Various,

Client

Arts Council and Historic England

MEP Engineers and Energy Consultants

Skelly & Couch

Cost consultant

Gardiner & Theobald

Historic Building Surveyors

Conisbee