Manchester Leads on EPC ratings – but there is a mountain to climb to reach 2030 targets

Over 80% of Commercial Real Estate in Major English Cities Falls Below EPC ‘B’ – Manchester Leads on Efficiency 

New research confirms that more than four out of five commercial buildings in England’s biggest cities are below the energy performance threshold of EPC ‘B’, underlining a huge retrofit challenge ahead​

In Manchester, which tops the rankings, only 20% of commercial properties have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A or B, meaning 80% are below a ‘B’ rating​. Other major cities perform even worse, reflecting a nationwide trend of low building energy efficiency amid slow policy progress.

According to analysis by the British Property Federation (BPF), 83% of commercial buildings in seven major English cities are rated below EPC B​. Manchester has the highest share of energy-efficient stock, with 20% of its commercial buildings rated A or B (the top two bands)​. By contrast, cities like Birmingham and Bristol see only 15% of commercial space at A or B – meaning 85% of their buildings fall short of a ‘B’ rating​

The full league table of the BPF’s city analysis is:

• Manchester – 20% of commercial buildings have EPC A or B
• London – 19% A or B​
• Leeds – 18% A or B​
• Liverpool – 18% A or B​
• Newcastle – 16% A or B​
• Bristol – 15% A or B (joint lowest)​
• Birmingham – 15% A or B (joint lowest)​

Even Manchester’s relative “lead” still translates to a vast amount of inefficient space. Over 10 million square meters of Manchester’s commercial real estate is below EPC B, equivalent to about 83 Arndale shopping centres in floor area​

Across the seven cities, reaching EPC B for all by the end of this decade would require retrofitting an estimated 94,600 m² of commercial space per day for the next five years​ a herculean task by any measure. The BPF says this underscores the scale of the challenge facing the property sector as it strives to improve building efficiency amid uncertain regulatory direction​.

These city figures align with broader market data showing the predominance of low-rated stock. For example, 87% of UK office space is rated EPC ‘C’ or below, representing over 1 billion sq. ft. (92.9 million m²) of floor space that would need upgrading to achieve a ‘B’ rating​. Such statistics make clear that most commercial assets are far from compliant with the potential future minimum standards, and that Manchester’s 20% A/B share, while the highest, is still modest in absolute terms.

Luke Cleary, Technical Director, CSR Sustain, comments:

“From our on-the-ground experience working with commercial property owners, we’ve seen first-hand both the challenges and the massive opportunities in improving EPC ratings. Our team has been helping clients identify practical retrofit strategies mainly through wide-scale electrication of property assets, addressing the carbon intensity at the source. While Manchester’s leading position underscores the region’s commitment, there’s still a major uphill climb across all UK cities. Our insight is that real progress hinges on collaborative effort, clear policy direction, and consistent investment so that all stakeholder, landlords, tenants, and service providers, can confidently embark on long-term, energy-focused building upgrades.” 

Origin post: Manchester’s commercial buildings top the league table in EPC ratings