UK heat risk and climate adaptation: building regs, cooling spaces, and policy pathways

Original publisher: The Conversation

The article examines how the UK faces rising heat risk from record heat waves, the role of building regulations in preventing overheating, and the need for cooling spaces and policy reforms to protect vulnerable communities.

• Heat waves cause premature deaths and stress health systems, with no legally mandated indoor temperature in the UK.
• Examples from Belgium and Canada show explicit heat thresholds and required cooling measures.
• Public cooling spaces and green-blue infrastructure can help, but must be accessible to all to avoid widening inequalities.
• Policy paths emphasize equitable, energy-efficient adaptation over heavy reliance on air conditioning.

Introduction and context

Adapting to extreme heat is presented as a necessity after record May and June heatwaves in England and Wales. Temperatures reached 36.7°C, closing schools and disrupting transport, while more than 20 people died from cold-water shock as they attempted to cool off in rivers and lakes. The piece notes the possibility of heatwaves hotter than 45°C in the 2050s and highlights the UK’s gaps in preparedness. It also references ongoing research into how workplaces, buildings and community spaces can be better equipped to cope with rising heat.

Work conditions and health impacts

Heat stress can cause mental fatigue, impaired decision-making, physical exhaustion and risk of heat stroke. Outdoor workers and those who must travel for work are particularly affected. Studies show productivity declines begin around 20°C and continue as temperatures rise, with hospital admissions increasing during heatwaves. The UK currently lacks a legally mandated maximum indoor temperature, relying instead on a standard to keep indoor workplaces at a ‘reasonable’ and comfortable level. By comparison, Belgium has explicit thresholds for different levels of work intensity, with mandated cooling measures when exceeded.

Regulation landscape and comparisons

England’s building regulations focus on reducing overheating in new-build homes by improving internal and external components such as shutters, insulation and shading rather than mandating mechanical cooling like air conditioning. The private rented sector, which makes up roughly 19% of UK households, lacks a mandated maximum temperature standard. Belgium uses explicit thresholds (29°C for office work, 26°C for moderate work, 22°C for heavy work, 18°C for very heavy work) with requirements for cooling, ventilation and hydration when exceeded. Canada’s New Westminster introduced a maximum heat bylaw requiring at least one room in every rental unit to stay below 26°C from 8pm to 8am, and the UK Renters’ Rights Act, in effect since May 2026, is proposed to extend protections against extreme heat as well.

Parks, pools and public spending

Cool spaces such as water stations, libraries, pools, green spaces and shaded areas are essential for heat relief. In Leeds this summer, 39 community hubs and leisure centers were designated as cooling spaces. Across the UK, austerity has led to erosion of public infrastructures, with 500 public pools lost and more than 125 libraries closed between 2016 and 2023, often transferring to community groups. Extending hours of operation for cooling spaces can improve access and equity. Toronto’s heat relief strategy ensures free access and extended hours at designated cool spaces and outdoor pools, while green-roof incentives and Montreal’s green alley networks show how city greening can reduce urban heat, though there are risks of gentrification and displacement if access is not managed equitably.

Policy recommendations and equitable adaptation

Reducing heat risks in the UK requires political will, policy interventions and investment that prioritise equitable outcomes. Equitable solutions should avoid a path that locks society into heavy air conditioning use, instead emphasising low-energy, everyday infrastructure such as parks, lakes, water features and shading. The goal is to ensure cooling access for all, including renters, and to extend cooling spaces' operating hours. The article also highlights the need to recognise the labour behind greening initiatives and to guard against green gentrification that could worsen existing inequalities. Global examples from Montreal, Toronto and Paris illustrate how green-blue infrastructures can cool cities and support climate resilience, but must be implemented with attention to social equity.