Foreword to our 2008 publication: 'Constructive Conservation in Practice'
We all have a relationship with historic places. They are part of our evolving cultural heritage and they reflect the nature and history of the communities that created them. They add distinctiveness, meaning and quality to the places in which we live, providing a sense of continuity and a source of identity. Historic places are also social and economic assets. Knowing accurately and objectively where their historic significance lies helps us determine how they can be adapted without losing what makes them special.
English Heritage has developed expert methods of doing this and is sharing these with conservation, planning and development professionals. Our aim is to help everyone identify the heritage values of historic places early in the development process, and be specific about how they might accommodate the changes that will keep them in use, and so secure their future.
Historic places have to be understood as assets if the benefits that can be gained through new investment are to be realised. Our Conservation Principles provide a robust framework in which to understand and value a site. When combined with English Heritage collaboration with local authorities and developers at the very earliest stages of a project, this understanding becomes the starting point for successful conservation-led development of historic places.
A few years ago we published the first volume of this series, Shared Interest (2006). It championed successful schemes that involved developers working with heritage professionals to exploit the commercial potential of historic places. Since then there have been even more successes. Our constructive approach to conservation is being increasingly adopted by other public agencies and in particular by local planning authorities, who are usually, and rightly, the first point of contact for developers seeking to make changes to historic places.
This second volume of exemplary conservation-led projects is offered to stimulate greater awareness of constructive conservation and to increase confidence in the use of historic places to support regeneration, place-making and community development. The cases chosen demonstrate the essential role of enlightened local authorities, with the necessary skills and confidence among both staff and Members, in bringing the ideas of talented architects and insightful developers to a successful conclusion. I am sure that everyone will be inspired by the case studies we present here. The combination of confidence and knowledge they display will help us all to capture the investment necessary to continue the story of precious places like these.
Steven Bee
Director of Planning and Development
English Heritage
Constructive Conservation is the broad term adopted by English Heritage for a positive and collaborative approach to conservation that focuses on actively managing change. The aim is to recognise and reinforce the historic significance of places, while accommodating the changes necessary to ensure their continued use and enjoyment.
