Conservation management plan
A conservation management plan (CMP) is a document that helps develop the management strategy for historic assets, sites and places. It explains the significance of the asset and examines how any future use, management, alteration or repair will be carried out in order to retain that significance. It informs the way an asset is conserved and managed, by establishing why the asset matters and what matters about it.
CMPs help to manage the often many different features and diverse interests that need to be considered in relation to historic assets. They are particularly useful for assets such as:
- New buildings in heritage settings.
- Habitats, landscapes or open spaces.
- Spaces in historic buildings.
- Buildings or institutions with heritage assets.
CMPs do not necessarily need to be lengthy documents. Instead they should be compiled and structured so that they can be easily-referenced by those managing the site. Complex sites will often have a range of plans in place already, but these may only focus on one type of heritage, whereas a CMP provides a holistic view, collating issues and plans. A CMP should be well-illustrated, with key issues highlighted in diagrams.
Property teams must work in collaboration to prepare CMPs, with the assistance of expert consultants if necessary. The stages involved in creating a CMP might include:
- Deciding why the CMP is needed and how it will be used.
- Identifying stakeholders.
- Understanding the asset.
- Assessing the significance of the asset.
- Exploring relevant issues.
- Setting policy aims and objectives.
- Implementing the CMP.
- Monitoring and reviewing the CMP.
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