Window Scrappage Scheme Threatens Historic Buildings

Ahead of the Budget, heritage bodies are urging Chancellor Alistair Darling to resist the Glass and Glazing Federation’s call for a windows scrappage scheme. Both the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) and the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) fear that if the Chancellor responded to the GGF’s e-petition to No. 10, it would put thousands of historic, traditional and wooden windows at risk of unnecessary replacement. In the petition, the GGF calls on the Government to adopt a ‘National Window Scrappage Scheme’ – and leading manufactures are currently running their own linked money-off promotions branded as ‘scrappage’. While the heritage bodies recognise that the aim is to persuade well-intentioned homeowners that this is the best way to save money, the IHBC is particularly concerned that neither the petition nor advertising make it clear that some customers may break the law if proper permissions are not in place before ‘scrappage’.  SPAB Secretary Philip Venning said, ‘This terminology is potentially misleading and could persuade homeowners to believe that there is already a Government-backed scheme in place similar to the recent initiatives for cars and boilers.  If a real ‘scrappage’ scheme were to be introduced, it could actually have a devastating effect on historic buildings – and also on buildings that are not listed, but which have traditional wooden windows. These can be easily repaired not replaced.’ The two organisations cite recent research by Glasgow Caledonian University which has demonstrated that the adoption of a wide range of simpler, less expensive measures – including the introduction of shutters and even fitting heavier curtains – can significantly reduce heat loss through traditional sash windows without the need to replace them. Such windows may be hundreds of years old, yet can still be effectively and economically repaired and upgraded for continued use.
 
IHBC Director, Seán O’Reilly, said, “The scrappage strategy threatens historic windows and glazing of all periods.  Most importantly, it ignores how the scheme could increase the carbon ‘footprint’ of each householder by promoting unnecessary waste, damage to the building and the adoption of unsustainable technologies with limited repair potential and short life cycles.  ‘Traditional traditional timber technology has been especially well studied by English Heritage and Historic Scotland.  Here simple repair and upgrading, including reinstating traditional technology such as shutters, consistently proved their environmental and economic effectiveness.  We all recognise the need to increase energy efficiency, but we need government to reach the right answer, not to push the wrong one.”