Knight Frank & Heritage of London Trust discuss green agenda and future of our historic buildings

Stephen Clifton: Nicola, can you tell us about the meaningful ways in which your work at HOLT is impacting and inspiring young people?

Nicola Stacey: Heritage is often seen as passive – nice to have, easy to ignore – but it can have massive social impact. In 2020, we launched our Proud Places programme, where young people are encouraged to get involved in restoration projects on their doorstep – to learn about their histories and the inspirational people behind them, and have a go themselves. We work with groups who have the fewest opportunities of this kind: young people at risk of gang exploitation, young refugees, and pupils excluded from school. On average, before working with us, 83% had never visited a historic site before, and 79% cared nothing for them. After our workshops, 49% led follow up visits for families and friends, whilst 97% felt their area was worth looking after. We also run presentation skills courses called Proud Prospects, in which school pupils ‘pitch’ for funding to restore a local heritage site.

Stephen: That’s wonderful to hear. HOLT’s projects also transform spaces, help the environment and impact the wider community, don’t they?

Nicola: Definitely. Sites are transformed from unloved and neglected, to cleaned and restored and this has a profound visual and economic effect – often becoming a catalyst for investment. We’ve just repaired some 1920s park gates in Hounslow and the council has now pledged to restore the derelict path beyond the gates so that locals and visitors can enjoy walking down to the river.

We’re also restoring a huge 1950s neon sign in Balham. Three hundred local people joined a campaign to support the project as they remembered it as part of their childhood. Once just a corporate sign, it has now become public art with social value.

Restoring local places also helps reduce vandalism - the area feels safer and so attracts more visitors, and young people feel better cared for and less disengaged.

Stephen: How can we ensure the private and public sectors come together to restore and repurpose our historic sites?

Nicola: HOLT was born out of the Greater London Council in 1980 as an independent charity and a way for organisations and people to ‘put back’ into London. Our conservation experience over many years means we can lobby local authorities effectively. With grant funding it’s hard to find an excuse not to restore these places, so it’s a way for the private sector to effect positive change at a local level – and at low cost.

Stephen: Absolutely. Though it must be quite a challenge to restore these sites. What are the biggest hurdles?

Nicola: The challenges are often practicalities over ownership and responsibilities. HOLT never owns these sites so we have to work hand-in-hand with different stakeholders. Sometimes we work with the Council in an enforcement case, which is always complicated and often frustrating, but means the site can be saved and there’ll be public access. Other challenges are urgent works – when a site is literally falling down and time is ticking. But we’re always open to whatever gives these places a future – sometimes that means a new use.

Stephen: So, how can Knight Frank help?

Nicola: Knight Frank has been a brilliant core supporter of HOLT for four years now and has supported the restoration of Boston Manor House in Hounslow, which will be one of London’s top cultural destinations when it opens later this year. The firm lets us proceed with the projects we identify as most in need and there’s a really good synergy between our work and Knight Frank’s, in keeping London vibrant and full of beautiful, appealing places. The firm’s in-depth market research is fascinating - I look forward to collaborating on that – and maybe developing some Proud Places projects together.

Nicola: Stephen, why has Knight Frank chosen to support the Heritage of London Trust?

Stephen: As a partnership defined by our people and commitment to enhancing lives and environments, it’s inspiring to see HOLT’s expertise and passion transforming spaces throughout the capital and bringing local communities along with them. So many fascinating stories lie just below the surface of our city, which through HOLT’s work are being uncovered and retold, connecting communities, championing and engaging the future generations to come – and that’s important.

Nicola: And how is it that Knight Frank engages with its local communities?

Stephen: In a variety of ways – both through our work in the Residential and Commercial sectors but also thanks to our people. Everyone across the firm is encouraged to take two volunteering days throughout the year, with our people getting involved in a wide range of initiatives from delivering meals to those in need, working with parents and children with challenging home lives, to mentoring young people. There’s also our partnerships with external organisations such as HOLT which are always highly valued.

Nicola: That’s great. Real estate often seems focused on the new and shiny - why is it important that we reuse and refurbish?

Stephen: Repurposing buildings significantly reduces the carbon emissions associated with construction and by adapting the use to business sectors, income can be generated from an upcycled building for the landlord and business rates can be collected by the local authority. The benefits aren’t just commercial though. There are also social value gains via future job opportunities for local residents and the creation of more vibrant neighbourhoods.

Nicola: There’s growing talk of a ‘flight to quality’, isn’t there? How can we ensure that our older buildings don’t get left behind?

Stephen: The flight to quality is often used to explain demand for new buildings, but in a post-Covid world, it also refers to buildings that have been future-proofed to be resilient and adaptable to changes in occupier requirements. The Mayfair and St. James’ markets, where planning has restricted the quantum of new build development illustrates that occupiers are willing to pay premium rents on buildings that have been refurbished or repurposed. The redevelopment of Hanover Square is a good example of a business district that exhibits flight to quality characteristics - high quality redevelopment of older buildings complemented by an improvement in the retail offer, accessible green space and greater connectivity from the opening of the Elizabeth line.

Nicola: Sustainability is at the core of HOLT’s work. What is Knight Frank doing to support the green agenda?

Stephen: Our Building Foundations programme aims to build a business for the future by focusing on three pillars: ‘People, Place and Planet’. We support our people, give back to the communities around us and care for our planet by adhering to sustainable business practices.

Playing our part in tackling climate change is critical and we have a huge opportunity to make a difference, through our own actions and our advice to clients.

I’m delighted to say that following a six-month consultation with The Carbon Trust, we’re:

• committed to achieve net zero by 2030 globally, with the UK reaching this target by 2027,
• adapting our buildings, operations and behaviours, utilising technology and nature-based solutions,
• looking at alternative energy sources to run our operations and transitioning to using 100% renewable electricity,
• making our fleet of cars electric,
• reviewing our entire supply chain to collaborate with firms who share our ambition for net zero.

We’ve also launched an ESG Taskforce and network of 50+ Green Ambassadors to share knowledge and insight across the firm, as well as invested in ESG skills, with nine Green Ambassadors becoming the first Knight Frank cohort to join the University of Cambridge Sustainability Management programme.

Want to hear more about Knight Frank’s partnership with Heritage of London Trust? You’ll find it in our latest edition of The London Report, here.