Adaptive Re-use: Assessing Conversion Potential in the London Residential Market

London increasingly needs new housing stock and an opportunity exists to exploit ‘adaptive re- use’ i.e. change of use from office to residential. One of the main barriers is cost certainty and the balance between innovation and risk. Is it possible to make a preliminary assessment of the conversion potential of a building, prior to spending time and effort on extensive survey work? This research draws on the experience of structural engineers and other project stakeholders to consider the technical constraints and develop a list of the most influential building attributes for consideration at feasibility stage. This represents both an innovative approach to project appraisal for adaptive re-use projects and a framework within which designers may focus initial resource.