Historic Environment Policy and Practice Vol 15 No 2 2024

One example of a linkage and potential knowledge transfer can be found in the most recent issue of Historic Environment Policy and Practice (Vol 15, No 2, 2024). This examines the question of adding balconies during the process of adapting historic apartment blocks. Comparing the local approaches adopted in Germany, Denmark and Poland (more commonly found in the first two than the last), the paper discusses the scope for renovations to improve the spatial qualities of these historic dwellings without compromising their heritage value.

The paper considers the outcome of structured interviews with conservational officers and other stakeholders, recognising the role of balconies in contributing to conservation objectives while also enhancing usability. Practitioners in this country might care to think about this approach in the context of the public versus private benefits debate, which plagues the interpretation of relative harm to significance underpinning English heritage policy.

As a counter to the jibe that heritage management tends to be experts talking to other experts, an interesting paper from Spain raises some very pertinent questions about bridging the gap between heritage professionals and citizens, by examining a consultation-based approach. Current heritage legislation requires a degree of public consultation such as that specified for conservation areas in England under Section 71 of the 1990 act. This paper is therefore an interesting development of a largely ignored approach to public engagement, notwithstanding that there is no published methodology for such exercises in Britain.

If we accept that a key heritage objective should be inclusivity, ensuring that as many people as possible should enjoy the value of their heritage, then the content and accuracy of audience research is an important factor in that process. A paper meriting readers’ examination written by the members of the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) highlights the problems of inherent biases, barriers to participation and other risks of citizen exclusion, and what professional processes and actions might benefit all its citizens equally. The problems and dangers of conventional audience research are also highlighted.