Conference Programme

09.00 Chairman’s Introduction: Day 1

• Sir Neil Cossons, Former Chairman, English Heritage

• Conference Welcome

  Cllr Warren Bradley, Leader, Liverpool City Council

• Liverpool, City of Merchants

  Nigel Lee, Planning Manager, Liverpool City Council.
  What sets Liverpool apart? How can urban planning balance conservation with much needed regeneration?

• Distinct and Different

  Robert Lee, Chaddock Professor of Economic and Social History, University of Liverpool; Co-director of the Centre for Port and Maritime History
  Port cities have played an important role in the global process of urbanisation and are major drivers for population growth and national development, as the examples of Hong Kong, Mumbai, Shanghai and Singapore illustrate. What unique factors make port cities different from other types of urban communities both in Europe and elsewhere?

• A Tale of Six Cities

  Sir Bob Scott, International Director, Liverpool Culture Company
  Cities on the Edge - how six European Cities: Liverpool, Marseille, Naples, Gdañsk, Istanbul and Bremen are using culture to spur regeneration and investment to improve their place in the world.

• Lagos: Historical and Comparative Perspectives

  Professor Ayodeji Olukoju, University of Lagos
  Lagos has undergone rapid change. How have commercial and national interests shaped this port city? This talk focuses on issues relating to traditional and contemporary culture, waterfront management and the impact of development.

• Shock City

  John Belchem, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool
  Victorian port cities were renowned for transients, sojourners and settlers but to characterize them as dangerous and ‘edgy’ is a misperception and misrepresentation. This is certainly the case for Liverpool, the ‘shock city’ of post-industrial,
  post-colonial Britain.

• Popular Values

  Professor Eric van Hooydonk, University of Antwerp
  Explores the tension between commercial and leisure interests in the management and development of port cities and how these can co-exist to benefit all.

• Shanghai Story

  Professor Xia Shanchen, Jiaotong University (Shanghai)
  How do you balance rapid urban growth with retaining and enhancing the unique historic environment? Shanghai’s remarkable growth is increasingly viewed as a benchmark for world cities. Committee member of the
  Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CCPPCC).

• Heritage In Regeneration: Inspiration or Irrelevance?

  Dr Simon Thurley, Chief Executive, English Heritage
  Appreciation of the historic environment should inform planning in port cities, but in practice how influential is thorough understanding of historic character and significance in shaping proposals for change? This presentation will explore the relationship between the historic environment, planning regimes and new development. The theme of change and innovation will be developed through discussion of the concept of historic setting and context as an influence on planning and design in port cities.

Lunch

Day one workshops

Regeneration and planning

• A1 Liverpool’s World Heritage
  John Hinchliffe, World Heritage Officer, Liverpool City Council
  Can lessons learnt in Liverpool be applied to historic port cities around the world?
  Gain an understanding of the principles behind the Supplementary Planning Document for new development throughout the World Heritage Site.
• A2 Early Port Development
  Gustav Milne, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology, University College London
  This talk examines the nature of port development in Roman and medieval periods, its effect on modern layout, and its impact on current planning considerations.
• A3 Ports and Partnerships 
  Howard Green, PPP consultancy expert and former Professor of Urban Planning, Staffordshire University
  What are the benefits and challenges of public-private partnerships, are they the best or indeed the only way to succeed? Explore the role of private sector investment in public sector led regeneration projects like the re-development of the Port of Liverpool and Liverpool waterfront area.

Historic environment

• A4 Protecting the Past 
  Bob Hawkins, Heritage Protection Department, English Heritage
  Explore the tensions which arise when protection is mistaken for prevention.
  Can protective measures ever be fully reconciled with development and renewal?
• A5 Understanding the historic environment
  Colum Giles, Head of Urban Research, English Heritage 
  Louise O’Brien, Project Manager, Historic Environment of Liverpool Project, English Heritage
  Sarah-Jane Farr, Merseyside Archaeological Officer
  Paul Smith, Sous-direction des Etudes de la Documentation et de l’inventaire, Ministere de la Culture et de la Communication.
  Successful management of the historic environment depends on an awareness of its significance. Explore different approaches to research and discuss how research can be directed to meet a wide range of objectives in port regeneration, from raising public awareness to shaping the future.
• A6 Is Heritage a Business Opportunity?
  Abha Bahl and Brinda Gaitonde, architects and founders of Bombay Heritage Walks
  Find out how their passion for Mumbai and its multicultural history led them to establish an independent heritage based business and how they made the most from harnessing Mumbai's vibrant visitor economy.

Changing communities

• A7 A Cotton Port Restored - Savannah, Georgia
  Mark C McDonald, President and CEO, Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
  A brief history of Savannah, Georgia, a leading 19th century port; its economic decline and its remarkable community-led restoration.
• A8 Liverpool's Changing Fortunes
  Alfred Zack-Williams, Professor of Sociology, University of Central Lancashire
  From Gateway to Empire to City in Torment: the decline in fortune of a Once Great Port and the impact on race relations. President of the African Studies Association UK; British Academy Africa Panel Member.
• A9 Slavery and Emigration
  David Richardson, Professor of Economic History and Director,
  Wilberforce Institute, University of Hull
  Slavery has often been rooted in forced migration. The Trans-Atlantic slave trade is explored in comparative perspective.