Ventrolla, a market leader in heritage restoration and renovation of timber sash and casement windows, recently hosted the third event in its heritage roundtable series. The event placed focus on the complexities of planning and preservation for heritage and listed properties – particularly towards the lack of clarity surrounding the use of vacuum glazing.

 

Titled ‘Vacuum Glazing – Real Solutions for Bringing Heritage Properties to Modern Efficiency Standards While Meeting Planning and Preservation Criteria’, the roundtable brought together leading voices from across the heritage, glass and built environment consultancy sectors to discuss the biggest challenges within the industry.

 

The discussion took place at The Dilly, a historic Edwardian-era hotel in London, where experts explored common misconceptions about vacuum glazing and strategies to educate both industry professionals and the wider public on its appropriate use in heritage buildings.

 

Experts drove the conversation forward through thought-provoking debates, live examples and insights into current challenges facing the industry. Ventrolla’s team – including Managing Director Mark Flanagan, Technical Director Dave Tiller, and Commercial Director Phil Jones – were joined by representatives from Purcell Architects, Studio Partington, Chapter Architects, Period Home Projects, Bellrock and Spatial, each contributing unique perspectives.

 

Key discussions highlighted the need for a holistic, case-by-case approach to retrofitting heritage buildings, emphasising the delicate balance between preserving historic fabric and achieving net-zero energy targets.

 

Mark Flanagan, Managing Director of Ventrolla, said: “This third edition of our roundtable series had a slightly different focus to those we have previously run. Vacuum glazing is still relatively new to the industry and there is still a lot of misunderstanding because of that. We are keen to drive forward a more aligned approach and thought process to the use of vacuum glazing, ensuring it aligns fully with planning guidance, as it can really unlock better efficiencies for heritage buildings throughout the UK.”

 

“Some incredibly exciting information came to light throughout the roundtable discussion, particularly around the need for a holistic approach to heritage retrofit and the industry-wide lack of education on vacuum glazing. Vacuum glazing is one of the most promising technologies in the industry for improving the energy efficiency of historic buildings, offering U-values as low as <0.7 W/m²K. But it isn’t a universal solution and that is something we need to build upon.”

 

Colin Davis, Director of Studio Partington, added: “The roundtable demonstrated the power of collaboration across the sector. It was encouraging to see industry leaders aligned on the potential of vacuum glazing. This sort of collaboration will make all the difference in ensuring vacuum glazing is used to its best potential, helping balance heritage preservation with energy performance improvements.”

 

The Ventrolla heritage roundtable series will continue in 2026, with future events tackling other areas of the sector, fostering collaboration, and promoting practical solutions. Full findings from this discussion will be released in the coming weeks.