Should we still be demolishing buildings when the climate, housing and economic cases all point towards reuse?

In this episode of Urban Forecast, co-hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd are joined by Will Hurst, Managing Editor of Architects' Journal and Co-Founder of Don't Waste Buildings, alongside Leanne Tritton, Founder of ING Media, Chair of The London Society and Co-Founder of Don't Waste Buildings.

Together, they explore why the UK's tax system continues to favour demolition over retrofit, how VAT is creating unintended consequences across the built environment, and why policy reform could unlock housing delivery, regeneration and economic growth.

From RetroFirst and embodied carbon to planning reform, viability and the role of government, this is a fascinating conversation about what needs to change if we are serious about creating more sustainable places.

Key takeaways
• Reusing existing buildings should become the default, not demolition and rebuild.

• The current VAT system often makes demolition financially more attractive than retrofit, despite higher environmental costs.

• Policy ambitions such as Net Zero and the 1.5 million homes target cannot succeed without addressing the financial realities facing developers.

• Better incentives, rather than additional regulation, could encourage more sustainable development across the UK.

• Local authorities, government and the private sector all have a role to play in removing barriers to regeneration.

• Consistent national policy would provide developers with greater certainty and encourage investment.

• AI is helping organisations analyse vast amounts of built environment data, creating stronger evidence for policy change.

• Collaboration across government, industry and campaign groups will be essential if meaningful reform is to happen.

Best moments
• "The whole tax system works against reuse of a building, which is the maddest thing ever."

• "We should try and make reuse of existing buildings the default, not knock buildings down and start again."

• "Every time you pick up a rock, you find some mad system that holds us back."

• "You can't blame people for making those decisions when the system financially rewards demolition."


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ABOUT THE HOSTS

Jon Ackroyd and Oliver Lowrie, the visionary hosts of Urban Forecast, bring their expertise from leading their innovative practice, Ackroyd Lowrie. Known for pushing the boundaries in urban design, Jon and Oliver use their podcast to delve into the future of cities, sharing insights from their work on projects that emphasise sustainability, community, and transformative architecture. Through Urban Forecast, they engage listeners with discussions on how architecture and design shape urban living, aiming to inspire new ways of thinking about the spaces around us.


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