Climate-resilient Self-Healing Lime Mortars for historic masonry (SHLM) 

Project summary

This project will develop and validate a new generation of self-healing lime mortars designed to improve the long-term protection of historic buildings and monuments threatened by climate change. Building on laboratory research, the project will test innovative lime-based repair materials that can autonomously repair cracks through natural mineralisation, embedded healing agents and vascular networks. Using specialist facilities at Historic England and English Heritage laboratories, the research will assess the durability, compatibility and performance of these materials under simulated climatic conditions.

The project will generate the evidence needed to determine whether self-healing lime mortars can be safely applied to vulnerable historic masonry, supporting future conservation practice and reducing the need for repeated repairs. By linking environmental stress, material behaviour and healing performance, the research will provide guidance for heritage managers, contribute to more climate-resilient conservation approaches, and demonstrate how collaborative heritage science can support sustainable solutions for protecting the historic built environment.