Retrofitting in Action: How We're Pushing Towards Net Zero in our Developments

‘Retrofitting’ is a term that might mean nothing to some people. Yet, as sustainability is placed ever-higher on the agenda,it is a term that sees increasing prominence in the commercial property market. 

A more straightforward way of putting it is ‘upgrading buildings’, and it’s a crucial part of our strategy at Bruntwood SciTech. 

Why Retrofit?

The property industry plays a vital role in reducing carbon emissions, with the UKGBC highlighting the need for urgent action to support the UK’s net zero target by 2050. Globally, 40% of emissions come from the built environment, and with 80% of 2050’s buildings already in use today, retrofitting existing properties is crucial.

Since Bruntwood’s founding in 1976 by the late Mike Oglesby OBE, restoring buildings has in fact been central to our operations. This approach not only aligns with our commitment to sustainability, but also preserves the unique character and heritage of towns and cities while modernising energy efficiency standards.

Retrofitting also adds value by reducing energy costs and meeting market demand for high-quality, sustainable properties. Customers, especially those with government contracts, increasingly set stringent sustainability targets. For instance, Bryt Energy’s lease at Cornerblock includes commitments from Bruntwood SciTech to replace all gas boilers by 2030, helping them meet their goals.

So, what’s involved?

Types of retrofit

Choosing the right retrofit approach depends on factors like the building’s strategy, specification, and commercial viability, helping determine the level of retrofit required.

A recent UKGBC report on commercial retrofit, co-developed with Bruntwood, highlights that ‘deep retrofit’—replacing major components like glazing or foundations—isn't always necessary. Instead, "light retrofit" and "optimisation" can effectively reduce energy use and often offer more practical solutions for sustainable redevelopment.

These lighter approaches focus on smaller upgrades, such as replacing old light fittings with LEDs, installing smart meters, or adding internal wall insulation—often done when a suite becomes vacant.

In contrast, ‘deep retrofit’ involves comprehensive changes across a building to significantly improve energy efficiency and sustainability. A standout example is our work at Pall Mall.

Pall Mall - A Case Study

Originally built in 1969, Pall Mall is a Grade II listed building and a recognisable feature of Manchester’s prestigious King Street. Having acquired the building in the autumn of 2021, we sought to preserve its existing structure while undertaking a retrofit to deliver a 74% reduction in Energy Use Intensity (EUI), a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating and an improvement from ‘G’ to ‘A’ in the building’s EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating.

Since Pall Mall had been sitting largely vacant for a number of years, a full-scale retrofit project also offered an opportunity to increase the property’s rental value significantly.

The Process

After acquiring the building, we undertook a Whole Life Carbon Assessment which offered an insight into the benefits of retrofitting versus demolishing and rebuilding from scratch.

The assessment found that the most carbon efficient solution would be a deep retrofit, partly due to the proposed replacement of the existing gas boilers in favour of heat pumps, enabling a major reduction in the intensity of energy usage across the building.

Plus, the building was acquired with original single glazed windows, minimal wall and roof insulation, inefficient lighting and a mechanical ventilation system with no heat recovery. A full, comprehensive strip-out and installation of new high performance glazing and insulation would improve the building’s ability to retain heat, making it much more efficient overall.

The Challenges

Throughout the planning process, there was a huge emphasis on preserving Pall Mall’s historic character while making the building as energy efficient as possible. These two priorities can often conflict, yet our comprehensive energy modelling and long term net zero targets enabled us to secure planning consent by reaching a compromise, in which the existing layout and mosaic tiling would be preserved during any replacement work to the facade. Although this slightly affected the building’s overall energy performance, we worked closely with project partners including Sheppard Robson, Dragonfly Contracts, Deloitte, Ramboll and DWLLP to ensure a retrofit which delivered a significant reduction in operational carbon.

The new glazing and facade will insulate the building against external heat, which means Pall Mall requires less energy to cool and will be more adaptable to increasing temperatures over time.

In summary

There were a lot of lessons learned on Pall Mall that we’ll continue to apply elsewhere. Updating heritage buildings for the modern world presents its own set of unique challenges and this project allowed us to set a precedent for future large-scale retrofits. Since this is such a key part of what we do, it’s been a huge benefit to the business to gain experience with issues such as navigating the planning approvals process, while working to preserve the character of a building in a sustainable way.

For more information on Pall Mall and to book a tour, get in touch here.