London’s risk from rising temperatures

A lot of purpose-built flats don't allow leaseholders to make alterations to their properties that would help residents cope with the heat (e.g. fixed AC units, awnings, external shutters).

These flats are also often poorly designed to deal with extreme heat (for example floor to celing windows with no heat rejection features that create a greenhouse effect when in direct sunlight). They will soon become unlivable in the summer if climate change continues to bring us hotter summers.

The Heat Risk Delivery Plan should require the property management companies of these types of flats to future-proof their existing properties for extreme heat.

Also planting more trees along the roads to provide a canopy is a win-win (good for the environment, makes an area look nicer compared to just drab grey streets and buildings and will provide shade from heat)

I am really surprised that the point around air conditioning isn’t being addressed. There is going to be more demand for AC going forward. Combined with the electrification of heating, London should be leading the conversation on installing air-to-air heatpumps across cities (over 80% of heat pumps installed in Norway are air-to-air, not air-to-water), which can tackle both heating and cooling needs. Planning support, financial subsidies, awareness campaigns… This feels like such a timely and big opportunity. 

London and other cities have contributed to the crisis by constructing far too many tall towers - most of which are badly designed and constructed - without considering the consequences. As the US has discovered tall buildings lock in heat by blocking winds from cooling areas down. Where I live it has just become a massive concrete jungle and there is a noticeable increase in temperature because of it. None of the properties even have any air conditioning. It must be hell for those on the upper floors.

It has been shown too that super tall towers represent seventy per cent of carbon emissions. Some cities in the US have started to create gardens in the sky which offers natural cooling and improved air quality. However, I cannot see any of the developers or councils profiting from the never-ending building game considering such innovation, let alone the long-term implications of their plans. 

Sooner or later the water and sewage systems in London will not be able to cope with the extra numbers and then we really will have a crisis. 

Say NO to more development. 

The most simple and widely-used cooling methods known as air conditioners and fans are somehow not included in the survey. They are invaluable in most tropical countries that can afford them. People overheating outside can just walk into a business to cooldown and maybe spend some money there, too. I know you are big on environmental protection but letting people suffer over that just isn't it. There should be financial incentives for public spaces and homes to install and use A/Cs to get them up-and-running before the summers get unbearable.

we tried putting foil on our windows but it felt like a waste of money as it fell off or blew away, so we invested in reflective blinds for windows that get direct sun, mostly suction blinds that we can remove but some fitted and while it makes a difference, it's the double glazing we put in that made the most difference. insulation is really hard in a brick terrace, we need grants and funding and sustained investment to provide better insulation in the many London homes that were not designed to cope with the temperatures climate change is bringing.

I would love there to be a maximum work temperature. There are people doing construction in non temp managed buildings, carrying heavy loads and working with machinery. It seems like 35 is well above a safe operating temperature with no official rules regarding water breaks or provision of fans etc. Never mind the hot commutes. 

2022 kept shutters closed in all rooms of my flat (I saved up to buy them as an investment to keep cool in the heat & also to keep warm in the cold! Prior to that I had blinds which I kept closed). Kept window & door open when at home to allow 'cool' air to circulate; allowed extra time for travelling - with either water bottle or flannel to hand!).  [Unfortunately think it's too unsafe to keep windows open at night or when I'm not at home.]

2025 (and years in between!) as above but my travel plans focus more on proposed time of travel & what's the best option e.g. I avoid bus journeys between 12-3pm  as traffic is so bad that journeys take much longer and you feel as if your sitting in a cooking pot (& there's only so much water you can drink!).

But use your common sense: Wear a sun hat & take cool drink with you if travelling in hot weather (& wrap up in winter!)

More trees / planting to provide shade; less areas being tarmacked over; building regs to ensure all new builds to be suitable for hot/cold climates and any existing buildings being 'renovated' to have the same conditions - both private landlords/owners & big building  corps/organisations. 

We can certainly plant more mature trees, install benches in shaded areas, and offer public drinking fountains. These are achievable goals. 

Look at how Paris has changed in 5 years, a similar challenging & iconic urban environment. Tree planting and greening areas & walls, SUDs helping in storms, all helping cooling/shading plus improving air quality and neighbourhoods. The tools and solutions are understood and well documented. The key is to also ensure it is focused where its needed or will give most benefits - those with least green spaces and high number of residents needs priority over central tourist hotspots

ban councils from pollarding trees so late in the season. Locally they  have been cutting the mature trees right into early June. We don't have any Tree canopy now, just lollipops. Poor birds and insects.

New flats built  with only single aspect windows. Must be absolutely ghastly.

New developments which have heavily hard landscaped outside space and the odd small tree should be prohibited.

I'd love to install external roller shutters on my windows like they have in Europe, but I doubt my terrible social landlord, Eastend Homes, would ever facilitate that. They've got scaffolding up around our building for their disasterous vertical extension project, and they haven't even thought to use the opportunity of having that scaffolding up to replace our end-of-life double glazing. They're not going to be doing something so sensible as helping us better proof our homes against heat.

We have hot hot bedrooms under a baking flat roof. We had to fork out for air con and so glad we did. But it wasn't cheap and it's not available to people because of that. But people need it. You wouldn't live in a freezing house and people shouldn't have to live in boiling ones. 

Further to my last post, people seem to rely on others doing things for them. Learn to help yourself - there are many organisations which will help. You can make a canopy for your own balcony, you can install blinds on your windows, you can get a couple of fans fairly cheaply second hand. I have helped neighbours and they have helped me. Do something. 

I came to London when I was 23 and have experienced every type of weather throughout the seasons. As a child up North, I have experienced amazing heatwaves and freezing winters, likewise in London. I have managed to survive each one. The weather in this country is totally unpredictable and there is nothing much we can do about it, which will make much difference. People need to look after them selves - wrap up warm in the Winter and wear as little as possible in Summer - wear hats, sunblock and carry water. Many shops, offices and buildings have air con, so do many cars and public transport. If people took more care of themselves, we would have fewer problems. Other nations survive far more extreme climates!!

It's ridiculous that the majority of flats in London do not have a balcony. I rent privately in an old Council estate and I am obliged to use the drying machine every other day. I use buses a lot and many stops do not have a cover to repair from sun or rain. If London is becoming like a Southern Italian city, it needs the same infrastructures, and fast.

Frankly London needs to learn from major big cities already been exposed to heat waves 

1-insulated building : walls, double glazing windows 

2-install awnings on balconies 

3-heat pump reversible with A/C

4- plant trees and create water fountains on square 

Build swimming pool like Vienna Copenhagen including in docks like canary wharf Royal dock etc

5 use river Thames banks like in Paris to create cool promenade and get rid of stupid RIBs for noise and carbon pollution 

6-limit car traffic when temperatures is sky high like in Paris Barcelona etc. 

7-get proper A/C  on buses and again like on the continent Nice Marseille etc 

8- solar panels on supermarkets car park providing electricity and shade for cars 

1 forbid Ciuncils from removing street plants which they call weeds. Every plant, even small ones, make the streets cooler  and ban glyphosate 

2 plant as many trees as possible, and , importantly keep them watered until established. 
3 install bus shelters the same as in Canary Wharf which use solar heat but remain cooler. 
4 reduce motorised traffic by every means possible. And prioritise pedestrians over motorists. 
5 invest in public fountains 

6 plant drought tolerant plants in public troughs and beds 

7 ban portable BBQs 

8 give grants to shopkeepers to install shade canopies across the streets. 
9 increase the number of public drinking fountains 

10 incentivise flat dwellers to install and maintain window boxes and green walls. In Austria they have a small reduction in Council tax and the streets are lovely.  And cooler. 
11 forbid hard standing in front gardens.