Scotland’s traditional and historic buildings are far more than attractive landmarks. They tell the story of our communities, provide a sense of place and identity, and embody generations of craftsmanship, ingenuity and local character. As structural engineers working and specialising in the existing built environment, we see first-hand the value of preserving these buildings and the opportunities that come from giving them a sustainable future.
The recent publication of the Scottish Government’s updated Guide to Conversion of Traditional Buildings reinforces an important message: the future of our built heritage depends not only on protection and conservation, but also on sensitive adaptation and reuse. Narro were asked to contribute their expertise to the creation of this guide, particularly focusing on the ‘Structure’ section.
Building on the Past to Create the Future
Scotland is home to hundreds of thousands of traditional buildings, many of which continue to play an active role in modern life. Whether they become homes, hotels, offices, cultural spaces or community assets, their continued use is often the best way to ensure their long-term survival. The new guidance recognises that adapting historic buildings can support regeneration, strengthen communities, reduce carbon emissions and avoid the environmental cost of demolition and replacement.
At Narro, we’ve long championed the principle that the greenest building is usually the one that already exists. Reusing existing buildings preserves the embodied carbon locked within their materials while retaining the character and cultural significance that new-build developments simply cannot replicate.
However, successful adaptation is not about forcing old buildings to behave like new ones. It is about understanding how they work, respecting their historic fabric and finding thoughtful solutions that allow them to meet contemporary standards without losing what makes them special. Our role as Engineer is crucial to this process.
Learning from the Building’s Story
One of the key themes running through the new guidance is the importance of understanding a building before intervening. Traditional buildings are often complex, shaped by years, often centuries, of alterations, repairs and changing uses. Hidden voids, complex structural systems and long-forgotten modifications can all influence how a building performs today.
This aligns closely with our conservation philosophy. Before proposing solutions, we must first understand the structure, materials, history and significance of a building. Good engineering begins with careful investigation and informed decision-making.
As part of the development of the structural guidance, we distilled the approach we typically adopt on our projects down to ten key principles; these principles are summarised below:
- Condition and suitability – Any building being considered for conversion should be in good condition and capable of accommodating proposed changes without disproportionate intervention.
- Respect the original structural behaviour – No conversion should rely on significant alterations to the structural behaviour of the building.
- Understand before you act – No alterations should be made to a building that is not properly understood.
- Design for robustness – The robustness of a building must not be diminished by the conversion.
- Avoid unnecessary interventions – If there is no change in the long-standing use of a building, and no problems have been detected within the existing fabric, there is generally no need for physical intervention to prove compliance with modern design criteria.
- Consider building services early – A structural strategy for mechanical, electrical and plumbing services should be considered from the outset and never underestimated.
- Use compatible materials – New materials should be compatible with the existing fabric of the building.
- Choose experienced specialists – Those responsible for overseeing conversion should have demonstrable experience of the building they are dealing with. In the Building Warrant approval process, this includes the SER Certifier for the project. Such experience is demonstrated by inclusion on the Conservation Accreditation Register for Engineers (CARE).
- Understand ruins as well as buildings – Ruins need not be considered any differently from intact buildings, but the causes of their deterioration and their existing condition must be fully understood.
- Take temporary works seriously – The design and installation of temporary works should be handled with the same care as the permanent works.
These principles are simple, and along with the wealth of other information in the updated Guide to Conversion of Traditional Buildings they reflect decades of practical experience. They encourage proportionate interventions that preserve historic value while allowing buildings to remain safe, functional and adaptable.
While the Guide is written specifically for Scotland’s regulatory and building standards framework, the structural principles that underpin it have much wider relevance, not least in the field of conservation. Traditional buildings across England, Wales and Northern Ireland share many of the same characteristics, challenges and vulnerabilities. Whether working on a Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh, a Victorian mill in Manchester, a Welsh chapel, or a country house in Northern Ireland, the same fundamentals apply: understand the building, respect its structural behaviour, use compatible materials and intervene only where necessary. The regulations may differ, but the principles of good conservation engineering are universal.
Balancing Conservation and Compliance
One of the greatest challenges in historic building projects is balancing modern standards with sustainability and conservation objectives. Fire safety, accessibility, energy performance and structural resilience are all essential considerations, but they should be approached in a way that respects historic fabric whenever possible. The updated Scottish guidance promotes a holistic and risk-based approach, recognising that every traditional building is unique and that solutions should be tailored accordingly.
As engineers, we often find that the most successful projects are those where Architects, structural engineers, building-services engineers, fire specialists, building standards professionals and clients collaborate from the earliest stages. Early engagement helps identify risks, avoid unnecessary interventions and develop solutions that work for both the building and its future users.
Sustainability Through Use
Perhaps the most important lesson is that conservation is not about freezing buildings in time. Historic buildings have always evolved. Many of the buildings we value today survived precisely because previous generations adapted them to new purposes.
Thoughtful adaptation allows these buildings to continue serving communities while protecting the stories, craftsmanship and structural ingenuity that make them significant.
While the Guide applies only to Scotland, its underlying messages reach far beyond national borders. The structural and other principles for understanding, conserving, adapting and reusing traditional buildings are relevant to historic structures throughout the UK. They provide a practical framework for making informed decisions that balance safety, sustainability and conservation, ensuring that our shared built heritage can continue to evolve without losing the qualities that make it special.
At Narro, we believe that structural engineering has a vital role to play in this process. By understanding how traditional buildings work, respecting their fabric and applying proportionate engineering solutions, we can help ensure that Scotland’s historic buildings remain relevant, resilient and useful for generations to come.
The future of our historic environment depends not just on preserving the past, but on making sure these remarkable buildings continue to have a purpose in the future.
