Residential restorations are more than just a passion project – they are an essential way of protecting and preserving our national heritage. Every year, thousands of people visit Heritage Open Days (12–21 September), celebrating the history and culture that has shaped our towns and cities. These events highlight why keeping historic buildings alive matters: they connect us to our shared story, showcase the best of British craftsmanship, and remind us of the importance of careful stewardship. But maintaining heritage properties is no small feat. Last year, the National Trust revealed its annual costs for restoration projects had reached a record £184 million – a reminder of the great responsibility that comes with preserving the past.
At City & Country, this is work we know well. Having won more than 100 awards for our sensitive conversions of period buildings, we understand both the challenges and the rewards of restoration. Before many of these buildings come into our care, they are often at risk – damaged by damp, vandalism or the effects of climate change. Our role is to breathe new life into them, ensuring they are not only habitable but ideally adapted to the demands of 21st-century living, without losing the beauty and integrity of their original design.
“The Victorians were master planners and architects,” says Simon Vernon-Harcourt, Design & Planning Director at City & Country. “They understood efficient building methods, how to heat and cool spaces, and how to maximise natural light – all while creating places of real architectural beauty. They have left a strong blueprint for today’s developers to follow.”
We’ve had the privilege of restoring a wide variety of heritage buildings into homes for modern residents. The Grade II-listed hospital building at The 1840 in South West London, King Edward VII’s former tuberculosis hospital in West Sussex, and a former tobacco factory in Bristol are just a few examples. Each project requires painstaking research and collaboration with historians, architects and interior designers. At The 1840, for instance, the original layout of wide corridors with rooms leading off them has resulted in every apartment having its own unique design – no two homes are the same. This is restoration as reinvention, where original details inspire modern layouts.
But heritage restoration isn’t just about preserving beauty – it’s also about sustainability. The property sector contributes around 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and building new homes from scratch comes with a heavy carbon cost. By repurposing existing structures, we reduce reliance on new materials and avoid the emissions associated with demolition and reconstruction. Heritage buildings often have “good bones” – thick brick walls, established structures and durable foundations – meaning we can restore and upgrade them with energy-efficient heating, improved insulation and modern interiors. In doing so, we deliver high-quality, sustainable homes while helping local communities retain their connection to history and culture.
Of course, new homes remain an essential part of meeting the nation’s housing needs – and our heritage teaches us an important lesson here too. The homes we build today are the heritage of tomorrow. Just as the Victorians left us a legacy of strong, beautiful, functional buildings, so too must we create architecture that future generations will be proud to inherit.
Restoration and new build may be different disciplines, but they share a common purpose: to create places that endure. At City & Country, our responsibility is twofold – to restore the finest examples of Britain’s architectural past and to build new homes with the same respect for quality, sustainability and design. In doing so, we ensure that the homes we create today will stand the test of time, ready to be celebrated by generations to come.