Event recap: Risk, Responsibility and Resilience webinar with CFCI
海角视频 hosted a webinar in collaboration with Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry (CFCI), exploring how heritage buildings could respond to increasing climate risks through informed adaptation, proactive maintenance and long-term resilience planning.
As climate change continues to reshape the environments our buildings were designed for, the challenge of protecting heritage assets has never been more urgent. In this webinar, 海角视频, Purcell, Historic England and CFCI came together to explore how owners, designers and policymakers can respond to growing climate risks whilst safeguarding the cultural significance of historic places.
A central theme was highlighted throughout the webinar: resilience is no longer optional. From overheating and flooding to subsidence, coastal erosion and biodiversity loss, heritage assets face a wide range of interconnected climate hazards. Yet with informed decision-making, robust analysis and proactive maintenance, historic buildings can continue to adapt and thrive for future generations.
Risk, Resilience & Responsibility: Protecting Heritage in a Changing Climate, June 2026
WHAT DID WE LEARN?
Resilience starts with understanding
Effective adaptation starts with understanding risk. By identifying vulnerabilities at both portfolio and building level, organisations can prioritise investment, target resources effectively and embed resilience into long-term asset management and maintenance plans.
The value of data and investigation
Building performance data, monitoring and testing play a vital role in informing adaptation strategies. In turn, a detailed understanding of how buildings perform today helps to reduce uncertainty, avoid unintended consequences and support more targeted interventions.
Operational insight is equally important, with facilities teams often providing valuable knowledge about building performance and recurring maintenance issues.
Learning from heritage
Historic buildings can offer valuable lessons in climate adaptation. Traditional features such as thermal mass, natural ventilation, shutters and awnings demonstrate how passive design strategies can support comfort and resilience. Often, simple interventions and a strong culture of maintenance can deliver significant long-term benefits.
More than 70% of National Trust sites could be at medium or high risk from climate hazards by 2060. In addition, around 10% of buildings across Britain could be affected by subsidence under a 4掳C warming scenario. Historic England also estimates that 拢4.3 billion is needed to repair built heritage currently in poor condition, highlighting the scale of the challenge ahead.
Balancing resilience and conservation
Improving resilience, whilst protecting heritage significance, requires careful decision-making. To achieve this, a thorough understanding of building performance and heritage value is essential to navigating the unique opportunities and constraints presented by each asset.
Through a range of project examples, the discussion demonstrated how evidence-based interventions can help prepare buildings for future climate risks whilst retaining their character and cultural significance.
Key themes from the Q&A
The Q&A reinforced the importance of adapting and reusing existing buildings wherever possible, whilst recognising both their heritage value and embodied carbon. Furthermore, a whole-building approach, supported by investigation, testing and robust evidence, was identified as key to delivering successful adaptation and avoiding maladaptation.
Looking ahead
As climate risks continue to evolve, resilience is becoming an increasingly important part of heritage stewardship. Ultimately, proactive adaptation, supported by good data, informed decision-making and long-term planning, will be essential to safeguarding historic assets for future generations.
Our speakers and panellists:
Alice Brook, Director, 海角视频
Chiara Faliva, Associate Director, 海角视频
Anna Woodeson, Partner, 海角视频
Laura Baron, Head of Sustainability, Purcell
Alan Gardner, Head of Building Adaptation, Historic England
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