EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Heritage works: the use of historic buildings in regeneration - a toolkit of good practice

Heritage works: the use of historic buildings in regeneration - a toolkit of good practice - UK

Introduction

Provides practical step-by-step guidance for developers, owners, community groups, practitioners and others on how to bring forward a heritage-led regeneration project.

Description

Discusses the role of heritage assets in regeneration, and the value of using heritage assets to help achieve sustainability. Explains that heritage assets include historic buildings, scheduled monuments and other archaeological remains, conservation areas, and historic landscapes (registered parks, gardens and battlefields). Highlights the economic case for regenerating historic buildings, discussing both direct value (residential values and commercial values), and indirect value (jobs created etc). Outlines the various stages that heritage-led regeneration schemes go through, from project initiation to design development, implementation, occupation and management. Identifies common pitfalls encountered and discusses ways of overcoming them. Includes a consent check list for listed buildings, and details of further sources of information.

Background information

It is assumed that the UK’s built heritage has much to contribute to the built environment, and that regeneration projects can benefit from working with historic buildings. This good practice toolkit was written to help regeneration projects avoid possible pitfalls when using heritage buildings in area regeneration.

Methodology

The study focused mainly on listed buildings, as these are most commonly associated with regeneration projects. Draws on case studies, the opinions of those involved in heritage regeneration projects, and a literature review. The combined advice and experience of English Heritage, RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and the BPF (British Property Federation) were also used to inform the study.

Conclusions

A number of key conclusions were reached, among them:

heritage assets represent an opportunity, rather than a constraint;
the benefits of regenerating heritage buildings relate to the community as well as the individual building;
to be successful, a project must identify a viable economic use that can support initial refurbishment, provide a return for the investor and generate sufficient income to ensure long-term maintenance;
early consultation with the local planning authority and English Heritage is essential;
expert professional advice should be sought;
and involving the community can build support for a project and help to avoid opposition later.

Contact info

English Heritage
Phone: +44 870 333 1181
customers@english-heritage.org.uk

Publication date

01/03/2006

Researcher

Drivers Jonas

Links

For more information, please visit the English Heritage website

Heritage works: the use of historic buildings in regeneration - a toolkit of good practice (PDF, Eng, 670 KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Urban environment > Cultural heritage

Keywords

Conservation of historic buildings