The incessant “retrofit first” mantra and the resulting crusade against embodied carbon, is running headfirst into a concrete wall: the crumbling legacy of Large Panel System (LPS) tower blocks.
These products of a post-war building boom represent a ticking clock, an exception to the rule where the ideals of retrofitting clash with the harsh realities of structural safety, financial viability, and long-term sustainability. The Building Safety Act is now forcing a final reckoning that has been dodged for over 50 years, creating a high-stakes battleground where short-term environmental goals are pitted against generational safety.
This article uncovers the five hard truths that, in the unique case of these problematic structures, tip the scales decisively in favour of demolition.
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