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Assesses the sustainability of new and refurbished housing- New evidence that refurbishment can be more sustainable than demolition and new build- Based on a comprehensive literature review and survey of housebuilders, quantity surveyors, development surveyors and architects- Highlights the types of project where refurbishment is likely to be cost-effective and the limitations of refurbish¬ment due to community and other problemsDeciding how best to regenerate run-down urban areas and create sustainable communities demands comparisons between the relative advantages of the two approaches to housing renewal: 'knock it down or do it up'. This report by the College of Estate Management, sponsored by BRE Trust, investigated the responses to this question by private and social housing developers and their professional advisers. Although the research points to the benefits of refurbishment in achieving sustainability objectives, it also shows that the uptake of sustainable construction practices is still being held back by higher costs than traditional housing, risk aversion, less favourable financial incentives and lack of consumer demand.Contents:Foreword by Ann Heywood, Principal, The College of Estate ManagementIntroductionThe research commission. Background. Aims/objectives. MethodologyUrban renewal and regeneration policy frameworkIntroduction. Sustainable Communities Plan. Low demand and abandonment of housing. Pathfinder scheme. Agenda for sustainable construction. Improving environmental sustainability of housing stock. SummaryDemolition and new buildIntroduction. Demolition. Waste from demolition. SummaryRefurbishmentIntroduction. Conservation-led regeneration. Heritage and regeneration. Heritage and Pathfinder schemes. Energy performance of historic buildings. Embodied energy. The value of conservation. SummaryDemolition, new build and refurbishment compared: which is the more sustainable option?Introduction. Maintenance costs. Performance of the housing stock. Value added tax. Sustainable construction. The nature of housing refurbishment. The costs of refurbishment compared with new construction. Group element prices. Comparison of unit costs. SummarySustainability indicators and assessmentsIntroduction. Factors influencing developers' decision-making. Assessment tools and criteria. Critique of sustainable indicators. SummarySurvey results and analysisBackground and research questions. Methodology. The survey findings. SummaryConclusions and further researchIntroduction. Methodology. Research results. Research recommendations. References