Heritage Works

Heritage Works: The use of historic buildings in regeneration

A few simple steps can avoid the failure of development projects in the historic environment - says Heritage Works, a new publication written by English Heritage, the British Property Federation, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Drivers Jonas.

Heritage Works is the first publication of its kind to combine the expertise of the propety and conservation sectors and is a practical step-by-step guide for developers, owners, practitioners or community groups for creating successful heritage-led regeneration projects. By identifying common pitfalls and ways of overcoming them, and including links to more than 30 other information sources, it is designed to be a one-stop reference document or "checklist" for regeneration in the historic environment.

Also available is the two-page supplement Heritage Works in the Thames Gateway, launched at the Thames Gateway Forum 2008. Heritage Works and its Thames Gateway supplement are available free from English Heritage Customer Services on 0870 333 1181 or as a pdf below.

Heritage Works has features such as a chart for navigating listed building consent and lists of issues to consider when surveying. It also includes information on issues such as breaking cycles of decline, concept development, economic benefits, using characterisation, VAT, fund-raising, the public realm and management plans.

Amongst comprehensive advice given for all stages of regeneration, three preliminary actions are critical to success:

1. Understand the heritage assets in question. Early consultation with English Heritage and the local planning authority is crucial for all parties to gain a full understanding of the conservation value of the asset, the project, its costs and the opportunities. Consultation provides certainty for developers by avoiding surprise problems later in the process and helping all parties to reach early agreement.
   
2. Find a viable economic use. This must support the initial refurbishment, provide the owner or developer with a reasonable return on their investment and also generate enough income for the long-term maintenance of the building.
   
3. Pay the right price for the asset. Purchasers and owners should make sure they pay a price that reflects full knowledge of the conservation constraints and realistic repair costs. It is vital at this stage to work with and get the advice of experienced specialists.

Liz Peace, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation, said: "Re-using quality historic buildings has been one of the cornerstones of the economic and social revival of our towns and cities. Heritage assets play a central role in successful regeneration and represent an opportunity rather than a constraint.

"The economic benefits of conservation-led regeneration relate not only to the individual building, but also to the wider area and community , creating popular, places where people enjoy living. "

Himalaya Palace, Southall © English Heritage Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: "The true cultural, social and economic value of Britain's architectural heritage is finally being recognised. This publication shows the unanimous agreement and shared aims of professionals in the conservation and development sectors. No one has an excuse for still assuming conservation to mean strict preservation. Conservation and progress go hand in hand. "

Louis Armstrong, Chief Executive of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, said: "We must not throw the baby out with the bathwater. An historic building can be a platform for social and economic revival, rather than an obstruction. Working with heritage assets requires specialist conservation, planning, funding and construction knowledge. A fear of unknown additional costs and constraints may deter many developers, but this publication identifies the common pitfalls and ways to overcome them."

Leonie Oliva, Partner, Drivers Jonas, said: "Our built heritage represents the very best of our past. It also provides a huge resource for the future of our towns and cities in terms of the stimulus it can provide to regeneration and the promotion of sustainable development. Projects from across the country – such as Newcastle's Grainger Town, Nottingham's Lace Market and Borough Market in south east London - demonstrate that "heritage works" and is a valuable asset that has an important role to play as a catalyst for regeneration."

The publication was funded and advised by English Heritage, the BPF and RICS and researched and written by Drivers Jonas. The full research document is available from www.driversjonas.com. A free hard copy of the summary document Heritage Works is available from English Heritage on 0870 333 1181 or download the electronic version in Pdf format.

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