Strategies to redress the resilience of residential buildings following climatic impacts: perspectives from the UK construction industry

Housing environments are designed to provide comfort and protection but climate change has compromised the resilience of residential buildings. This study examines the impacts of climate change on UK residential buildings, identifying key vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies. A qualitative approach was used, involving ten semi-structured interviews with experts. A thematic analysis of the interview transcripts using NVivo (V.14) software revealed connections between climate change drivers and building factors such as location, age, orientation, typology, and material integrity. Adverse effects on buildings and occupants include structural degradation, increased energy demands, and indoor discomfort. This study underscores the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration among housing owners, community members, construction professionals, and policymakers to enhance the resilience of buildings. Construction professionals are seen as key players in the implementation of mitigation and adaptation measures. This study emphasises the need for proactive adaptation measures, informed policy interventions, and improved construction practices to safeguard housing against climate change. It contributes to understanding the effects of climate change on UK residential buildings and offers strategic insights for improving their resilience.

Citation

Onus EL, Chinyio E, Daniel EI, Gerges M. (2025) Strategies to Redress the Resilience of Residential Buildings Following Climatic Impacts: Perspectives from the UK Construction Industry. Sustainability, 17(8), article number 3426. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083426

Type

Journal article

Language

en

Description

©2025 The Authors. Published by MDPI. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link: https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083426

EISSN

2071-1050

Collections

Faculty of Science and Engineering