The UK is incredibly rich in architectural history. In fact, around 20% of buildings are from the 19th century or earlier. They are an irreplaceable part of our history. However, we face losing many of them because of a heritage skills shortage. We want to have a closer look here, then if you need help with a project, rely on us and choose an award winning architect in London.

Buildings at risk

Historic England did their latest Heritage at Risk Register in November 2025. With 138 new entries, the total is now almost 5,000. This includes various buildings and structures, plus parks, battlefields, and archaeological sites.

A number of special, historically significant structures and sites are at risk. Many urgently need repairs. A notable example is a simple hut in Gloucestershire. While it may not seem like much, it was actually where Edward Jenner, the father of immunisation, did some of the first smallpox vaccinations.

Just last month there were also news stories about Hall’s Croft in Stratford-upon-Avon. The stunning 400 year old timber-frame building has a Grade I listing. It is noteworthy for its links to Shakespeare, once home to his daughter Susanna. Although work is underway to preserve the property, it remains at risk. The fear is it could cost as much as £10m to complete all building work, including on the facades and roof.

A serious issue

While heritage buildings are undoubtedly important, saving them is immensely challenging. Even if you work with a top architect in London like us, there can be serious hurdles to overcome.

By far the biggest challenge is the heritage skills shortage. Older properties are harder to save because they were built at a time when building techniques were very different. Today, some of these skills are very rare or completely extinct. It makes it much more difficult to maintain, renovate, and retrofit these buildings. This leads to problems like higher costs and longer timeframes. While properties are awaiting repairs, they can continue to deteriorate or experience problems such as fires or flooding.

The lack of heritage skills is largely due to a structural problem in the education system itself. Only a small number of courses include some elements. Additionally, apprenticeships are very rare today. Ultimately, you have the double-edged sword of people with heritage skills getting older and fewer new students coming through.

Change is necessary

If we want to save more heritage buildings, it’s vital to ensure there are more people with the relevant skills. This will require changes at the educational level. However, it could provide even more opportunities, particularly when it comes to retrofitting. The right changes could help to make the UK a retrofit leader. This could improve the built environment and help to achieve carbon zero goals.

Work with a top architect in London

At Coffey Architects, we really appreciate heritage buildings. In fact, we’ve had the chance to work on some fantastic projects, including complex retrofit works. Our skills and creativity are great resources for this kind of project. We’re so good at it that we’ve won some incredible awards.

So, if you need help and want to work with a leading architect in London, tell us your vision for your project. We’re excited to see what you have in mind and what we can contribute.