More than a million homes in London may require significant upgrades to address the capital's overheating crisis, the London Assembly has been told. The city's properties are particularly vulnerable due to the urban heat island effect, where buildings and roads absorb and retain heat, leading to higher temperatures in built-up areas.
City Hall's Approach to Cooling
Through the London Plan, City Hall has instructed developers to prioritize passive cooling measures, such as shading, over the installation of air conditioning. Experts emphasize that climate change, especially rising temperatures, makes modernizing homes—traditionally designed to retain heat in winter—more critical than ever.
Heatwave Impact and Social Housing
During the 2022 heatwave, London recorded temperatures of 40°C in July, contributing to 3,271 heat-related deaths in England, including 387 in London. According to the Resolution Foundation, social tenants are disproportionately affected, with 74% of social homes at high risk of overheating.
Dan Bicknell, Climate Adaptation Manager at the Greater London Authority (GLA), acknowledged the challenge, stating, "It's fair to say we are in the early days of this process." He noted that a report has been published to identify target areas but warned of a "huge funding gap" for retrofitting homes en masse. Combining heat adaptation with energy efficiency programs could make the process more viable.
Funding and Retrofitting Challenges
Bicknell described retrofitting over a million existing properties as a "really expensive process" and stressed the need to integrate it with other activities to ensure feasibility. The GLA plans to publish its Heat Risk Delivery Plan this summer, a city-wide framework for managing extreme heat.
No Ban on Air Conditioning
Deputy Mayor for Planning Jules Pipe clarified that there is no ban on air conditioning in new developments. "All the plan says is to maximize passive measures that cost tenants nothing," he explained. The cooling hierarchy requires developers to design buildings to avoid overheating first; if AC is still needed, it is permitted. Pipe added that greening policies in the current plan are ambitious, and future plans will be equally so, given insufficient global climate action.
Stay informed about London's events and news with our Going Out Out newsletter.
