Conservation of the historic environment
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The historic environment is all around us and creates a sense of place and local identity. Conservation is concerned with the integrated, informed understanding, sustainable care and appropriate renewal and development of that resource. Conservation is one of the principle objectives of the legal protection we offer nationally-recognised heritage or designated heritage; it underpins the principles of sustainable development that the planning system uses to manage our entire resource of existing buildings and places, whether or not they are historic.
The historic environment provides continuity with the past, but also accommodates change and helps places adapt to the present and future. But to thrive, historic places need the specialist and cross-disciplinary management skills that only conservation specialists can provide, and who draw on the highest professional standards.
Historic places attract people, activity and investment, giving new life to their communities and helping make places more competitive. They play a central role in regenerating towns, cities and rural areas all around the UK, especially helping to repopulate inner city areas. To integrate all these different considerations and pressures, conservation specialists need to be highly skilled, and often work at the cutting edge of regeneration practice.
The terms 'design-led' and 'heritage-led' regeneration have become synonymous with dramatic urban transformations, often in previously failing areas. Where there is great pressure for development, the historic environment can help to maintain variety and a range of community facilities. In rural areas, historic buildings assist tourism and promote local economic diversity.
Conservation must be committed first to making development more sustainable. Maintaining and converting historic buildings is a way of conserving the resources used to build them, and minimising the carbon emissions associated with demolition and redevelopment. Historic places often better cater for the needs of pedestrians and accommodate mixed uses and varied rental levels, essential to nurturing small businesses and encouraging innovation.
Design is another key concern for conservation. Historic places will always be the inspiration for the great architecture of the future. The combination of refurbished old buildings, exciting new ones, good urban design and high quality spaces has created places where people positively choose to live, work and spend leisure time.
Many conservation specialists - or even non-specialists simply interested in their local places - get involved in historic building projects aimed at supporting local communities, providing education, assisting cultural development, promoting tourism and improving the quality of life.
The underlying principle is that historic buildings and places have their own intrinsic cultural, social, educational and spiritual value. Any nation that claims to cherish cultural achievement in any field has a duty to care for its heritage.
All conservation specialists require a wide range of skills, ideally across more than one principle area of practice. These range from the evaluation of cultural and other values in the fabric or area concerned, to the financial and legal issues relating to its future care, and to designing and developing the changes and new interventions that offer the most sustainable outcomes for that heritage.
This article was contributed by --Institute of Historic Building Conservation
Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Archaeology.
- Building pathology.
- Building survey.
- Conservation area.
- Conservation officer.
- Designated areas.
- Historic building investigation.
- Historic environment.
- Licensing.
- Listed buildings.
- Parthenon.
- Planning permission.
- Principles of conservation.
- Renovation.
- Restoration.
- Scheduled monuments.
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
- Structure relocation.
- Tree preservation order.
External references
IHBC NewsBlog
IHBC Virtual School 19 June: Heritage Reflections & Speculations from a Pandemic
How the current pandemic will shape historic urban areas and their surrounding communities across the globe is impossible to tell. Join us to reflect on the implications for our current approaches to caring for valued places, and even speculate on future strategies and responses.
RTPI calls on government to issue planning guidance to prevent development delays
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has called on the government to urgently issue planning guidance to prevent unnecessary delays to development from the pandemic.
How to Enjoy Heritage from Home, from the Heritage Fund
The Heritage Fund has put together a list of heritage-inspired activities to be done from home.
Listed Property Owners Club’s Spring Checklist for Buildings
Spring is a good time to stand back and consider any building repairs that are required over the next 12 months, notes the LPOC, and regular inspection and maintenance is the key to keeping homes in good repair, as per its accessible step-by-step guidance.
Firefighters tackle blaze at converted Grade II listed former mill
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said “rapid and effective firefighting” had saved three quarters of the mill – which is now apartments.
Thieves take advantage of lockdown to steal lead from church roof in Halsham
Police have appealed for witnesses after thieves stole lead from the roof of All Saints Church in Halsham near Hedon during the coronavirus lockdown.
IHBC's CPD Circular provides info on digital CPD opportunities
The regular newsletter showcases the IHBC’s own Continuing Professional Development (CPD) content as well as online opportunities from ‘IHBC Recognised CPD Providers’ and other conservation related training and events.
Frank Lloyd Wright houses offer virtual tours
To make sure the public still has access to twelve of those famous works, #WrightVirtualVisits has been launched, which offers virtual tours of 12 iconic houses.
CIC’s Coronavirus Digest review and survey
The Construction Industry Council’s (CIC’s) ‘CIC Coronavirus Digest – Issue 8’ surveys the latest government advice with updates from the construction industry.
COVID-19: Advice and Updates collated from the Heritage Sector
Organisations with conservation links have been collating resources on COVID-19 impacts, including Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS), Historic Environment Forum, The Heritage Alliance (THA), and Historic England, on cleaning surfaces.
Councils considering ‘executive powers’ as measures to avoid planning gridlock
Councils are reported to be considering taking up rarely-used executive powers to keep the planning and development system moving during the coronavirus pandemic.
Historic England provides updated flood recovery advice
Historic England's 'After a Flood' provides timely advice on how to dry walls properly and avoid further damage to the building fabric.
Conservation of Timber Buildings: an example of evolving conservation techniques
Context Issue 162 offers a peek into an archive of timber conservation history through the records of the practice of FWB and Mary Charles Chartered Architects.
Call for VAT rates for Refurbishment to be Reduced
To meet the government’s target of being carbon neutral by 2050, we must recycle, reuse and responsibly adapt our existing historic buildings, according to this year’s Heritage Counts report, so Historic England and partners are calling for a reduction in VAT rates to incentivise this more sustainable option.