Demolition and Refurbishment

The review (a collaboration between Engineering Exchange and the UCL Urban Laboratory) found that housing refurbishment is often better than demolition and reconstruction, when considering social, environmental and energy factors. Further, demolition decisions for buildings are often taken by professional experts and developers, without adequate engagement with local residents and communities. Good decis ion making in regeneration also requires thoughtful assessment of financial and technical information, within a context of meaningful engagement with residents and communities.

The project developed a series of resources for understanding issues around demolition or refurbishment of social housing in London. Following feedback from our community partners, the formal report was synthesised into a ‘community toolkit’, designed to help communities assess due diligence in decision-making around demolition v. refurbishment of social housing in London. Scroll down for factsheets, videos and a major report. 

Community Toolkit

Fact sheet: Embodied Carbon

Fact Sheet: Health and Wellbeing

Fact sheet: Lifespan and Decisions

Policy Briefing: Making Decisions on the Demolition or Refurbishment of Social Housing

Full Report: Demolition or Refurbishment of Social Housing?