[en] This paper considers the improvements to the high energy synchrotron radiation source (SRS) performance which would result from a series of different modifications that have the common feature of leaving unchanged the ring of dipole magnets. The modifications will be made to the number and location of the quadrupole magnets which lie in the straight sections. It is shown that substantial reductions in horizontal beam emittance can be achieved by modifying the lattice to an achromatic arc type or by doubling the number of unit cells, the latter approach being preferred since it results in a much better behaved lattice. The reduction in momentum compaction factor which also takes place would mean that the maximum energy could be increased to 2.5 GeV without needing more r.f. power. (U.K.)