Conservation officer

Local planning authorities generally employ, or retain the services of, a conservation officer. Sometimes this role may be combined with that of archaeological officer, although they are very different, albeit related, functions. The role can also be referred to as Historic buildings inspector.

The conservation officer’s role is to ensure the heritage assets of the local authority are preserved, managed, enhanced and promoted.

The involvement of local authority conservation officers in development proposals might include:

• Offering pre-application advice on the location, form and character of developments that may affect listed buildings, conservation areas, scheduled monuments or other heritage assets.
• Assessing planning applications for new developments that may affect heritage assets and proposing planning conditions that might be imposed on permissions.
• Agreeing inspection cycles.
• Visiting sites and carrying out inspections and surveys.
• Assisting enforcement action.

Managed intelligently the conservation of heritage assets need not disrupt developments. However, this often requires engagement with the local planning authority’s conservation officer as soon as possible if it is suspected that proposals may affect heritage assets. This will help identify the procedures that must be followed and avoid abortive work.

Other activities undertaken by a local authority conservation officer might include:

• Maintaining information about heritage assets.
• Surveying assets that are at risk.
• Estimating restoration and conservation costs.
• Advising owners of buildings at risk or redundant buildings.
• Advising on policy measures and controls both locally and nationally.
• Advising on regeneration projects affecting heritage assets.
• Sourcing grants and other funding for conservation work.
• Championing heritage issues in the local authority and the wider community.
• Liaison with Historic England.
• Implementing schemes to conserve heritage assets.
• Advising on the designation of heritage assets.
• Canvassing public opinion and dealing with public enquiries.
• Planning and supervising long-term environmental projects.
• Assisting with enforcement action to protect threatened buildings or conservation areas.

The activities of conservation officers are most effective when they are embedded in the local planning authority, rather than being seen as an add-on.

NB. Conservation officers may also be employed by non-departmental public bodies or charitable trusts such as English Nature, the Countryside Agency, English Heritage, Historic England, the National Trust and so on, as well as by central government and by private consultancies.

[edit] Find out more

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Archaeological officer.
• Are works to listed buildings demolition or alteration?
• Archaeology and construction.
• Building preservation notice.
• Cautions or formal warnings in relation to potential listed building offences in England and Wales.
• Certificate of immunity.
• Charging for Listed Building Consent pre-application advice.
• Conservation.
• Conservation areas.
• Conservation officers in historic towns.
• Conservation practice survey 2016.
• Designated areas.
• English Heritage.
• Forced entry to listed buildings.
• Historic England.
• Historic Environment Service Provider Recognition.
• How to make conservation areas work.
• Is conservation area policy fit for purpose 50 years on.
• Landscape officer.
• Listed buildings.
• Local authority conservation specialists jobs market 2014.
• Loss of senior conservation staff and posts in England March 2010 to April 2011.
• National Planning Policy Framework.
• Negotiating skills for conservation professionals.
• Planning authority.
• Planning authority duty to provide specialist conservation advice.
• Planning permission.
• Protected species.
• Scheduled monuments.
• Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.
• The history of conservation areas.
• Tree preservation order.
• Use of direct action in heritage enforcement cases in England.
• What makes a heritage-at-risk officer.

[edit] External references.

• English Heritage, Managing heritage assets.
• The Institute of Historic Building Conservation.