As Devon experiences warmer summers and more frequent heatwaves, a new national design guide is making the case for a simple but often overlooked climate adaptation measure: shading.

Shading for Housing: Design Guide for a Changing Climate highlights a growing challenge facing communities across the UK. The publication warns that by the mid-2030s, around 90% of the UK’s housing stock could suffer from overheating as temperatures continue to rise. For a county like Devon, where many homes were built for a cooler climate, the findings provide a timely reminder that adapting to a changing climate is just as important as reducing emissions.

Produced by leading housing, architecture and building performance specialists, the guide calls for a shift in how homes are designed. Rather than treating shading as an optional extra, it argues that measures to block unwanted solar heat should be considered from the earliest stages of planning and development.

The principle is straightforward: stop excessive heat from entering buildings before it reaches the glass. External shading devices such as shutters, awnings, external blinds and overhangs can dramatically reduce indoor temperatures during hot weather while still allowing natural light and ventilation. According to the guide, these solutions are significantly more effective than internal blinds, which only address heat after it has already entered the building.

This approach could bring substantial benefits across Devon. New housing developments would be better prepared for future climate conditions, helping residents stay comfortable during heatwaves and reducing the need for energy-intensive cooling technologies. At the same time, retrofit projects could incorporate shading measures alongside insulation and energy efficiency upgrades, ensuring that homes become both warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

The guide also reflects the growing recognition that climate adaptation delivers wider benefits for health and wellbeing. Heat-related illness is becoming an increasing concern across the UK, particularly for older people, young children and those with existing health conditions. Cooler homes can help reduce health risks during periods of extreme heat while creating more comfortable living environments for everyone.

Importantly, not all shading solutions require complex technology. The publication highlights the value of trees and other planting as part of a wider shading strategy. Deciduous trees can provide shade during the summer months while allowing sunlight through in winter, delivering benefits for biodiversity, street character and residents’ quality of life as well as thermal comfort.

For Devon, where climate adaptation is a key theme of the Devon Climate Adaptation Plan and wider partnership work, the guide offers a practical example of the changes that can help communities become more resilient to future climate impacts. As temperatures continue to rise, designing homes that can stay cool naturally will be an important part of creating healthy, comfortable and sustainable places to live.

The publication’s central message is clear: shading is no longer a luxury or an architectural afterthought. It is becoming an essential tool for protecting homes and communities in a warming world. For Devon’s planners, developers, architects and homeowners, that is a message worth listening to.

Read the publication here.