Traditional U.K. home builders design and construct structures with cold weather in mind. Most masons use brick because of its high thermal mass — the ability to absorb and release heat slowly. This feature stabilizes indoor temperatures and minimizes heating loads.
Most residences in the U.K. are in built environments. IBISWorld estimated that the British urban population was 84.4% in 2022-2023. The most common ones are semi-detached, sharing one wall with the next-door neighbor. Terraced houses — similar to the town houses and row houses in the United States — are prevalent in urban areas.
The U.K.’s high rate of urbanization can exacerbate house-related climate impacts. Densely populated areas are more prone to weather events because the elements can wreak havoc on more properties simultaneously and disrupt more people's lives during utility infrastructure disruptions like power outages.
The worst-case scenario of the climate crisis may not yet have transpired. However, these palpable weather phenomena already prove that traditional British houses must adapt to the new climate reality sooner rather than later.
According to the State of the UK Climate in 2024 report, the UK has become warmer by 0.25° Celsius — 0.45° Fahrenheit — since the ‘80s. Warmer temperatures raise the likelihood of heatwaves, which feel worse in built environments that are already hotter than rural areas due to the discrepancy in vegetation.
Brickwork moderates the effects of heat waves, and windows and doors with lower U-factor ratings reduce the rate of unwanted heat transfer. However, these solutions only mitigate solar heat gain. Retrofitting ventilators and air conditioning equipment to British homes ultimately neutralizes warmer weather.
The Met Office says heavy rainfall is becoming the norm in the U.K. Many British houses, especially older ones, have preexisting dampness issues, which stem from flaws in original construction methods. Masonry structures are prone to water seepage because they’re inherently porous.
While summers tend to get more precipitation, winter rain presents a unique danger. Rain on top of snow increases the risk of inundation, which can submerge neighborhoods in towns with inadequate flood control infrastructure. Communities with less vegetation are more susceptible to flash flooding, as trees lower the runoff by slowing the flow and improving the soil enough to accommodate more water underground.
Prolonged dry weather saps moisture from clay-rich soil, resulting in shrinkage. Structures develop cracks when the ground underneath them subsides. Structurally compromised houses are unsafe, energy-inefficient and more weather-prone.
Unfortunately, clay is underneath most of London — a recurring theme in southeast England. Essex, Kent, Surrey and other population centers in the region also have clay soils. The younger the clay formation, the higher its risk of drying out during extended droughts.
As they stand, U.K. houses are highly vulnerable to the climate crisis. The Brits don’t have to rethink everything. Using durable materials is already the standard. Homeowners should focus on essential improvements and support government policies that address challenges outside their control.
