Institute of Historic Building Conservation No 114 May 2010

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ii CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Context

IHBC comment on PPS5 2 New life for Portaferry Briefing 5 Nick Brown 34 Out of Context 6 Partnership at Oxford Castle Debbie Dance 37 Letters 6 The Vivat Trust’s special buildings www.ihbc.org.uk The writer’s voice 7 Laura Norris 40 Registered as a Charity Number 1061593. Remembering Joe Martin 7 Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England A new approach to involving Number 3333780. ICOMOS-CIVVIH conference, Registered Office: 3 Stafford Road, Tunbridge Wells, volunteers Liz Bates 42 Kent TN2 4QZ. Valletta 8 Lessons from Great Yarmouth Officers Periodically 9 President Eddie Booth Stephen Earl 44 email [email protected] Working with building preservation Chairman Dave Chetwyn trusts James Moir 11 Public perceptions of conservation email [email protected] areas Jenny Whetton 46 Vice Chair Sheila Stones BPTs and revolving fund activity email [email protected] Secretary Richard Morrice Andrew Beckett 13 Gardens and designed landscapes 50 email [email protected] Treasurer Michael Knights BPT activity in the East Midlands Architecturally speaking 53 email [email protected] David Trevis-Smith 17 Membership Secretary Jo Evans IHBC consultations 54 email [email protected] Building preservation trusts Education Secretary John Preston Notes from the chair 55 email [email protected] in Scotland Sarah Jenkins 20 Publicity Secretary Doug Black email [email protected] The Little Houses Improvement Director’s cut 56 Law & Practice Coordinator vacant Scheme Stephen Copp 23 email [email protected] Membership notes 57 Director Seán O’Reilly email [email protected] The best of both worlds Vox pop 58 Projects Officer Fiona Newton Marcus Patton 27 email [email protected] Book reviews 59 Consultant Consultations Coordinator James Caird Heritage assets for community use email [email protected] Products and services 61 Membership Services Officer Joanna Theobald Nick Falk 29 email [email protected] Administration Officer Lydia Porter A Scottish partnership Alan Lodge 31 Advertisers index 64 email [email protected] Committee Chairs Policy Mike Brown email [email protected] Editorial Membership & Ethics Jo Evans email [email protected] Finance & Resources Richard Morrice email [email protected] Education John Preston The preservationist instinct email [email protected] Communications & Outreach Charles Strang What is it about historic building and those for justice may inspire email [email protected] conservationists? the planner’s traditional concern for Branch Officers Something inspires us to choose supposedly rational land use. North Geoff Underwood Tel 0191 433 3435 this line of work. It is not the money. Perhaps historic building North West Kate Borland Tel 0161 2344556 Yorkshire Keith Knight Tel 01904 658482 Perhaps it is something deep in our conservation provides an outlet West Midlands Charles Shapcott Tel 0121 7044312 genes. Scientists tell us that human for people with a highly developed East Midlands Roy Lewis Tel 01636 653060 instincts relate to challenges that our instinct for habitat selection. In his South Julia Foster Tel 01296 585888 South West Ian Lund Tel 01225 477687 ancestors faced in the environments in introduction to our theme on building East Anglia Phil Godwin Tel 01263 516131 which they evolved. preservation trusts (BPTs) in this issue South East David Kincaid Tel 01227 862185 The psychologist Steven Pinker has of Context (p11), James Moir reflects London David McDonald Tel 020 8881 6724 Scotland Stuart Eydmann Tel 01506 775279 suggested that there are sets of instincts on what motivates the people whose Wales Nathan Blanchard Tel 01492 583443 for intuitive mechanics (knowledge of extraordinary passion drives the BPT Northern Ireland Sharon Brown Tel 028 9754 3087 the motions, forces and deformations movement. Saving neglecting buildings, Republic of Ireland Cormac O’Sullivan that objects undergo); intuitive biology he suggests, may evoke childhood Tel 00353 5677 62907 (understanding how plants and animals memories; inspire thought about value Business Office work); number; mental maps for large and meaning; and, above all, satisfy our Jubilee House, High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6HA England territories; habitat selection; and justice sense of place. Tel 01747 873133 Fax 01747 871718 (sense of right and obligations). Our ancestors’ survival depended email [email protected] We can imagine how these instincts on understanding what sort of places helped our hunter-gatherer ancestors would be best suited to the tribe’s

Institute of Historic Building Conservation No 114 May 2010 survive, and how they may inspire the survival, and how to adapt those places. Cover: A new entrance various types of built environment The knowledge was a matter of life and through the prison wall giving access to the 19th professionals of today. Those with death. Conditions have changed, but century Debtors Tower highly developed instincts for the passion for placemaking is still vital and prison D Wing, part mechanics or numbers are more likely today. Our articles in this issue point of a major project by the to become engineers; the instincts for to some very practical ways in which Oxford Preservation Trust and its partners, see p37 understanding biology find an outlet in building preservation trusts not only Working with building (Photo: Oxford Castle landscape architecture; those for mental preserve buildings but help to create preservation trusts Unlocked) maps are expressed in architecture; living places.

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 1 Context IHBC comment on PPS5

Editor Rob Cowan

Editorial Coordinator Fiona Newton 21 George Street, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 9JU Tel 01507 602567 email [email protected] Fiona Newton, IHBC projects officer, and sparse. Coupled with this, the PPS writes: So there it is at last! The new introduces a raft of new language for Editorial Board Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for us to take on board. How long will it Fiona Newton (chair) Nigel Crowe (main features) the Historic Environment (PPS5), issued in take us all to feel the same attachment Peter de Figueiredo (book reviews) March, replaced two of the oldest pieces to ‘heritage assets’ and ‘significance’ Michael Taylor (main features) of planning policy guidance – PPG15 as we do to the language passed down (1994) and PPG16 (1990). The response through circular 8/87 to PPG15? Cartoons by Rob Cowan to the document has been, in the main, The separation of policy from Context is distributed to all members of the a sense of relief, given the widespread guidance, in line with the current Institute of Historic Building Conservation. unpopularity of original draft document. approach of governments across the UK, © Institute of Historic Building Conservation Indeed full credit should be given to has made the document significantly 2010 all those involved in the redraft, as the shorter than both PPGs 15 and 16. ISSN 0958-2746 revised version marks a considerable With only 12 policy areas, the stripped- transformation from the original. down approach will take some getting Publisher Of course it has strengths and used to. The much-lamented loss Published for the Institute of Historic weaknesses, and each of us will have a of Annex C, which offered precise Building Conservation by different view on the balance of these, but technical guidance on many aspects of Cathedral Communications Limited, High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire, it is clear that it presents a new approach, conservation practice, has been a sore England SP3 6HA which will certainly take time to get used to many. Others are more sympathetic Tel 01747 871717 to. For this reason English Heritage, to the new approach, treating cases Fax 01747 871718 through its HELM programme, has been on their individual merits. The new email [email protected] www.buildingconservation.com providing introductory seminars to the accompanying English Heritage-authored document, while the IHBC is looking Historic Environment Planning Practice Non-member subscriptions to Context at how best to support implementation Guide provides interpretation for the Context is available to non-members of now that we are faced with this new tool. policies in the PPS and is a material the IHBC at an annual subscription rate, Although similar in approach and consideration. The guidance is jointly including postage, of: United Kingdom £50.00 basic content to the consultation draft owned by English Heritage and the Elsewhere £75.00 PPS issued in October 2009, PPS5 is relevant government departments. Subscription orders, together with more coherent and more consistent. It The guidance is seen as more flexible remittances payable to Institute of Historic has been substantially reshaped in the and open to later amendment. Indeed, Building Conservation, should be sent to the IHBC Business Office at light of comments and criticisms raised the IHBC has raised issues with English Jubilee House, High Street, Tisbury, by the IHBC and the wider conservation Heritage on how guidance could be Wiltshire SP3 6HA. sector. The joint consultation response amended in the future to improve certain of the IHBC with the RTPI led to areas. To balance this there needs to be The views expressed in Context are not necessarily held by the IHBC or the front-page coverage in the national an awareness that it should not be treated publisher. Neither the publisher nor the press and a subsequent announcement as something so flexible that it will have IHBC shall be under any liability whatsoever from planning minister John Healey little weight and confer little protection. in respect of contributed articles. that ‘to put it beyond doubt, there is no question of downgrading the protection Terminology We gratefully acknowledge the support of firms whose advertisements appear of historic buildings. The current Those parts of the historic environment throughout this publication. While every language in the planning policy statement that have significance because of their effort has been made to ensure that the is not clear enough. We will redraft it historic, archaeological, architectural or information contained in this issue of Context to make clear that the protection of indeed artistic interest are now called is current and correct, neither the IHBC nor the publisher can be held responsible for any heritage buildings will not be reduced.’ ‘heritage assets’. In terminology at least, errors or omissions which may occur. PPG15 was intended not only for local the PPS provides the first attempt to authorities, but also as a useful source of develop an integrated approach to the guidance for property owners, developers, historic environment in line with the Copy deadlines investors, amenity bodies and others. aims of Heritage Protection Reform. PPS5, on the other hand, is planning Legislation to create an integrated list Context is published five times a year, in March, May, July, September and policy and nothing more. PPG15 was is still seen as the aim. It is interesting November. The copy deadlines in 2010 are: for many an inspirational document to speculate how it would differentiate Issue Deadline filled with useful quotes. It could be between buildings with utility value July, Issue 115 17 May used to explain clearly many key aspects and monuments incapable of use. September, Issue 116 19 July November, Issue 117 20 September of our trade, not just to the planning This is especially important to avoid committee, appeal hearing or developer the tests of viable use being applied meeting, but also to the local society or to monuments that have no potential the historic building owner unfamiliar for productive use. The PPS gives no with the system. It was a faithful friend working definition of artistic value with beautiful prose and added value, for practical purposes, but as such against which PPS5 seems very dry status is based on the determination of

2 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 ‘significance’ (which in turn is founded on ‘interest’), it is clear that substantial duty is placed on the expert practitioner to make an informed and balanced judgement to identify a ‘heritage asset’. The new use of the term ‘significance’ is intended to be linked to the existing terms used in the 1990 Act, such as ‘special architectural and historic interest’ and also ‘archaeological interest’, which was established by PPG16. While the intention is that all policies cover all assets, in practice, and until and indeed if, any further legislation is enacted, the legislative regime governing each remains distinct. In order for applications to be validated, the significance of heritage assets has to be identified and assessed to a proportionate level. This may be seen as a formalisation of a conceptual process of assessment often used in practice. This proportionate approach to significance chimes very well with much current practice in building conservation. The PPS contains a number of terms which would appear to be likely sources of future debate and discussion as to PPS. While many may notionally relate presumption in favour of preservation, their extent and definition, and which to other PPSs, they do not in the main now termed conservation (policy 9.1), are not defined in the terminology have any specific concentration on the which was to be lost in the previous annex. The introduction of such terms historic environment aspects. As a result draft of PPS15, is now thus expanded without definition is unfortunate. Let the emphasis has been lost for areas under the PPS to be relevant to all us hope that further clarity can be such as enforcement and prosecution, designated heritage assets rather than brought to this. For example, where does and establishing fixtures and curtilage the PPS15 presumption in relation to ‘substantial harm’ exceed ‘less harm’ (in the light of the existing legislation listed buildings. This brings registered or indeed become ‘less than substantial pre-empting any possible new legislative scheduled monuments, registered parks harm’? The level of harm is seen by the framework). It is of course one aspect of and gardens, World Heritage Sites government to be a judgment to be made the raft of planning policy and should and battlefields within this policy. by local planning authorities. Indeed, be read as such with all other planning a basic definition of each level of harm policy, particularly PPS1. PPS5 is not A finite resource could be established at this early stage the exclusive reference for the historic The acknowledgement that our heritage by the planning authority to ensure a environment policy. Rather, as the is finite has been reintroduced and more robust response to being put on opening paragraphs of PPS5 make a much-improved acceptance of the the spot later in appeals and inquiries. clear, reference should and must be wider benefits of heritage is described made to others PPSs by users of PPS5, in the section on the government’s Planning policies only depending on circumstances and need. objectives. The headline policies on The removal of all policies considered In this sense, perhaps more than any climate change accept the inherent to not be direct planning policies has other, PPS5 represents the integration sustainability of historic buildings reduced the word count and, it can be of historic environment policy with and do not see heritage entirely as an argued, the value of the document to wider planning policy. In this way impediment to climate change mitigation. specialist conservation professionals, as too, it responds to the IHBC’s firm opposed to wider planners. Thus the commitment to integrating specialist Enabling development relationship of the historic environment historic environment practice with the PPG15 contained no advice on to other areas of control and grant wider planning system. The document ‘enabling development’. The PPG did regimes (such as building regulations, is emphatic that it does not undermine not appear to support the concept in dangerous buildings, disabled access, the wide conservation values that the general: paragraph 1.3 on sustainable house renovation grants, ecclesiastical IHBC works to support. This is in stark development points up the risk of exemption, advertisement control, and contrast with the first draft of PPS15. ‘sacrificing what future generations will highways and public realm) have all been It is no longer possible to hope that all value for the sake of short-term and removed in many cases, not only losing the answers will be found by reference often illusory gains’ and the sections valuable statements of priority over other to a single document. But how do we on use and alterations (3.8 to 3.15) legislation, but unlikely to be picked up balance other government policy against did not mention it. The new enabling by other PPSs. Perhaps this is where the value of the historic environment development policy (11.1) is based very the government’s high-level statement if it is not explicit in this document? tightly on English Heritage’s existing may need to come into its own. policy. It requires a series of tests to A number of other planning-related Presumption in favour be applied to applications to enable areas have also been excluded from the The welcome reinstatement of a local planning authorities to weigh up

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 3 whether the benefits to the asset of the persuasive and potentially useful of government should be encouraged enabling development outweigh the the suite of documents issued. But to commit to these. The positive deviation from local or national policies. of course by now, after the general statement acknowledges the inherent election, it is either obsolete as the sustainability of historic buildings, Government’s statement view of a former government or simply their contribution to the low-carbon Accompanying the PPS and the practice forgotten. However, it does contain economy and to the mitigation of climate guide, The Government’s Statement on some strong, positive messages, many change, and the historic environment’s the Historic Environment for England of which have been heavily and directly contribution to economic prosperity, 2010 is perhaps the most powerful, influenced by IHBC input. Any future employment, culture and regeneration.

Main issues raised in the consultation, and the government’s response to them in producing PPS5

1. Need for the historic environment conservation. Others commented that historically may have been assessed in to be seen as a positive force the references to climate change throughout different ways. A new policy principle in sustainable development the text should be consolidated into a has been inserted, specifically relating The draft PPS saw the historic single policy. to the protection that should be environment as an obstacle to sustainable Action taken: The references to given to undesignated assets and the development, and references placing the climate change have been consolidated position clarified in relation to Grade II historic environment in a more positive and placed near the top of the text. listed buildings. The key tests for light were restricted to its narrow role in This makes a stronger statement of the determining in what circumstances leisure or recreation. Consultees requested government’s intent. A new paragraph harm to a heritage asset could be more emphasis on the positive role of has been added, designed to give local tolerated in the wider public interest, heritage in relation to regeneration, planning authorities a clearer steer on now apply to designated assets only. economic development, social enhancement how to respond to conflicts between For undesignated assets, heritage status and place-making. conservation and climate change will be a material consideration in Action taken: New text has been imperatives, through their development determining planning applications or inserted to recognise the contribution that plans and decisions on individual application for listed building consent. heritage assets can make to sustainable applications. development. This is reinforced by The 6. Improving the definition of Government’s Statement on the Historic 4. Restoration of presumption in significance Environment for England 2010. favour of conservation Many consultees felt that the definition of Many consultees commented that there ‘significance’ should be clearer and more 2. Proportionality of approach should be an unequivocal statement of detailed, and should relate more clearly Consultees wanted to see a more presumption in favour of protection of to the legislative basis for the different proportionate approach, particularly heritage assets from inappropriate change. types of heritage asset. This comment in relation to evidence gathering and Action taken: PPG15 included was often associated with a plea for information requirements. An associated such a presumption in relation to comprehensive references to the legislative point was that historic environment records, listed buildings only (although some context of the policy, namely the Ancient the enhancement of which is promoted in consultees were under the impression Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act the PPS, are currently variable in quality that it extends to all aspects of the 1979 and the Planning (Listed Buildings and completeness, and should not be relied historic environment). The idea of and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, on as the main source of information. incorporating a presumption was particularly as the Heritage Protection Bill Action taken: The need for a rejected at consultation stage as it was has not been taken forward. proportionate approach has been considered it had little practical effect, Action taken: The expanded definition underlined in the text as a general in that protection was provided by of ‘heritage asset’ and the amended requirement, but particularly in relation the application of the various policies definition of ‘significance’ in Annex 1 to evidence gathering and to the in the circumstances of each case. It of the PPS now cross-refer to one information required of applicants for has reinstated the presumption for another. This should help to place the listed building consent. Additionally, designated assets. concept of significance in context. less emphasis is placed on historic English Heritage’s revised draft practice environment records as the only source 5. Need for greater clarity about the guide provides more detailed guidance. of evidence. The text recognises that degree of protection for designated The term ‘significance’ might be new other sources of information could and undesignated assets but the concept is not. The term is be important and encourages local Although there was general support for the a generic one relating to the special authorities to use them. English single-spectrum approach of the consultation interest held by each type of heritage Heritage’s revised draft practice guide draft (ie where most policies related to all asset, and is firmly linked to terms emphasises that historic environment heritage assets, whether or not designated), a (architectural and historic interest) records vary considerably and draws number of consultees felt that there should be used in the 1990 Act referred to above. attention to other information sources. a clearer distinction between designated and The concept of ‘archaeological interest’, undesignated assets, particularly in terms of also used in the definition, is well- 3. Treatment of climate change the protection they should receive. established in PPG16 (Archaeology The consultation raised concerns about Action taken: The single-spectrum and Planning, published in 1990) and the treatment of climate change, especially approach arises from the need to familiar to the sector. The new-style that it gave the impression that mitigation find a way of applying the PPS to the PPSs focus on policy principles and do of climate change took precedence over different types of heritage asset, which not simply repeat legal duties.

4 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Briefing

Rope works restoration the engine that powered the machinery apprenticeships. It was continued by its The UK’s most complete surviving by line shafting from the engine successors, first the Rural Development example of a rural rope works is room attached to the eastern end. Commission and then the Countryside being restored after South Somerset Agency. It is the only national source of District Council bought the 300-foot- Threat to rural crafts vocational training where blacksmiths long, 19th century Dawes Twine Herefordshire College of Technology can learn specific traditional forgework Works building and its machinery. is closing its rural crafts skills training techniques, enabling them to cover The project will involve moving the and apprenticeship scheme due a broad range of skills from basic to roof and returning the sunken structure to the withdrawal of government advanced level while still at work. to its original footprint. The work is funding. The New Entrants Training The course allows working being organised by a partnership of the Scheme (NETS) provides two-year blacksmiths and apprentices to be Coker Rope and Sail Trust, the district block releases in forgework, furniture trained on a block-release basis. This council and the Industrial Buildings making, upholstery, wheelwrighting, has helped to ensure the survival of Preservation Trust. The partnership wood machining and thatching. sustainable rural craft businesses. plans to bring the twine works back to The forgework and thatching courses Some building conservationists life as a visitor attraction illustrating are of particular importance to the fear that few blacksmiths will take how twine, rope and sailcloth were heritage sector. Funding for these on apprentices if they can not send made, traded and used. A community courses has been withdrawn following them for training on NETS, as farm in the village will grow hemp the demise of the Learning and Skills they may not be able to afford the and flax, and the project will restore Council, which is being replaced time to train them themselves. one of the original retting ponds used by the Skills Funding Agency. to rot the hemp and flax roots. Neal Armstrong, a part-time student Leighton House restored The natural conditions in south on the NETS forgework course at Leighton House Museum, the Somerset made it suitable for growing the Hereford College of Technology studio house of the Victorian painter flax and hemp and the establishment said: ‘The NETS programme covers Frederic Leighton in London’s of the manufacture of rope, twines, a range or rural crafts. All are to cease Kensington, has reopened following webbing, netting and sailcloth. The at the end of July, when I will be a £1.6 million refurbishment. industry flourished from the 17th about half-way through the course. The project began on site in 2007 century when government incentives ‘These courses are highly regarded when external repairs were carried out encouraged British sailcloth production. by everyone who has taken them and to make walls, roofs and windows secure. By the 19th century there were as also within their respective industries, This phase saw the reinstatement of many as 40 sailcloth, rope and twine so to find their abrupt termination has the brick ziggurats that ran around the makers in Somerset and West Coker. come as a great shock. As students Arab Hall and Silk Room parapets. Surrounding villages were important we’ve had no indication of who made Derived from stepped pyramid profiles, centres for cottage-based production this decision, so we are unsure who the original ziggurats were removed of sailcloth before the development to petition about its reversal.’ in 1959. In their restoration hand- of factory-based production. As the NETS courses fall outside the made bricks were used in reforming The Grade II* building is a single- National Occupational Standards (NOS) their original geometric shapes. storey structure with an attic floor. It system (which includes NVQs), they do Leighton’s original decoration, is of timber-framed construction that not meet the Skills Funding Agency’s furnishing and lighting schemes have is bolted together with a pitched, clay, criteria for ‘priority provision’. Some been reinstated. More than 20 paintings double Roman tile roof. The building progress is being made in developing formerly in Lord Leighton’s collection is largely open-sided but is enclosed by NVQs to level 3 for thatching, which have been returned to Leighton House weatherboarding at the eastern end. It could save this element of the course, and now hang in their original locations retains virtually all the late 19th century but proposals for NVQs for ironwork for the first time since his death in 1868. machinery relating to the twisting and have only recently commenced, The refurbishment was overseen finishing of twine, with the exception of pending approval of its NOS. by architects Purcell Miller Tritton. Furthermore, the NETS forgework course tutor, Paul Allen, is concerned that only a handful of companies in the UK are large enough to cope with the requirement for learning and assessment at the place of work, which is the backbone of the NVQ system. The NETS programme was started in 1973 by the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas (COSIRA) to meet the needs of the growing number of rural workshops and forges Dawes Twine Works: a rare survivor that could no longer afford to support Leighton House: originals reinstated

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 5 Letters

‘THESE boards are litter and are not Suspicions confirmed practice subsequently confirmed that the necessary in this age of internet access.’ From John Fidler, Simpson Gumpertz and beetle larvae had created the flight holes. A Hammersmith and Fulham resident Heger, Los Angeles I never did collect on the champagne. quoted in the London Evening I can help Chris Morris with his question I asked entomologist Brian Ridout Standard in support of the council’s about lead-eating deathwatch beetles about the beetles’ behaviour when we decision to ban estate agents’ For Sale in Lewes (Letter, p7, Context 113, were later engaged in the European signs in six conservation areas. March 2010). Yes, the larvae are well- Commission’s Woodcare Research project known to chew their way out of the wood at English Heritage (published in Timber, ‘OUR JOB is to provide quality and through lead sheets if in their way. EH Research Transactions, Vol 4, 2001). healthcare services in modern and I was taught this lesson in 1974 by the He had not come across this himself. We suitable premises that are accessible then surveyor of the fabric of Winchester set up a ‘beetle hot-line’ to encourage to all local residents. We’re not here Cathedral, architect Corinne Bennett the public to send us samples of beetles to look after historic buildings.’ (née Wilson, as she was then) for whom for experimentation. This turned out to A spokesperson for NHS Islington I was working in the Sevenoaks office of be more amusing than useful. A lady in explaining in the Guardian why it Purcell Miller Tritton and Partners as a South Africa heard about our work and plans to sell the pioneering modernist year-out architecture student. Corrine rang to ask if John Lennon was still alive. Finsbury Health Centre, designed by always specified sheet copper flashings John Fidler Berthold Lubetkin and built in 1938. and damp-proof courses on top of wall plates in the repair of beetle-decayed Defenestrated ‘BATTERED and bedraggled as beam ends and roofs in general, due to From Professor Malcolm Airs, Oxford the NHS may have now become, this problem. The beetles did not chew It is ironic that Graham Tite’s excellent this marvellous building remains its their way through copper. review of the new medieval and noble progenitor and still embodies Renaissance galleries at the Victoria and its original promise of public service. Albert Museum (Context 113, March That promise must not be betrayed.’ 2010) is illustrated by an old image of John Allan of Avanti Architects, Sir Paul Pindar’s London house with who repaired part of the Finsbury its wonderfully evocative display of Health Centre in the 1990s, arguing patterned glass. In its new position the that it should remain in the use façade has been effectively defenestrated. for which it was designed. Although we can still enjoy the exuberance of the timberframing, ‘THE TWENTIETH Century Society I can’t help feeling that we have lost is extremely disappointed that the an essential element of its character. DCMS has chosen to disregard English Malcolm Airs Heritage’s advice and has refused to list Slough Town Hall. Revealingly, the secretary of state was “persuaded Yes, deathwatch beetles are guilty. by the evidence provided by others” – in this case a consultant working In 1982, when I was studying on for the very council which wants to the building conservation course at tear down its own headquarters. the Architectural Association, I visited ‘A tragically high quantity of good Christopher Wren’s gothic St Mary buildings has been demolished in Aldermary in the City of London with Slough in recent years, including grand fellow students for an exercise on the art deco-styled factories by the likes of Quinquennial Inspections of Churches Wallis Gilbert and high-quality post-war with the inspecting church architect offices. More are to come down as the Martin Caroe’s partner. We found pin town tries to erase its past and reinvent holes in the 8lb lead sheets of the south itself from scratch. Despite famously aisle roof and I immediately diagnosed heckling Slough, John Betjeman’s praise the problem as deathwatch beetles. for the town hall’s architecture as “a The architect was incredulous, but I striving for unity out of chaos” in 1948 was insistent and bet him a bottle of has never been so relevant as today.’ champagne that I would be proved right Comment from the Twentieth once repairs got under way. Sure enough, An old photograph of the Pindar façade. The V&A now Century Society the lead roofs were later repaired and the displays it unglazed.

6 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Remembering Joe Martin A deep attachment to the place

From A Broken Wave by Lionel Esher Joe Martin, Salford City Council’s (Allen Lane, 1981) conservation officer, was the council’s longest-serving officer, having served As unprecedented historically as the disappearance of the slums is the new for almost 40 years. He joined attitude to the heritage from the past. Until building control in 1970, becoming a 1940 educated people were extremely building conservation officer in 1993 choosy about past styles of architecture. and a conservation officer in 2003. The Antique had a century of adulation; Joe was incredibly committed to Tudor came in and went out; Louis XV and enthusiastic about Salford’s went out then came in. But outside these history and its buildings. The city may decorators’ fashions, any new buildings have an image (largely gained from were always thought to be an improvement LS Lowry’s paintings) as a densely and in designing them no deference built-up industrial city at the heart of whatever was paid to old environments. Then, perhaps as a result of the the industrial revolution, and that is uniquely destructive character of World central to understanding Salford now. War II, there occurred a change in human But its history goes back centuries sensibility. By 1950 we loved everything, before the industrial revolution. however hideous. Of course this did not It was this tremendously varied immediately prevent an immense amount history that Joe loved, combined with of destruction for profit or ‘planning gain’. a deep attachment to the place itself. But as soon as the intelligentsia could After all, the modern Salford Quays get itself organised and rush through the (with the Lowry and Media City) was necessary legislation, it became virtually formerly the Manchester docks at the impossible to demolish a listed building except by the underhand trick, soon head of the ship canal, from where as a acquired from private speculators by boy he travelled on a ship to Canada. philistine public bodies, of encouraging it Joe’s background in building control to fall down. gave him a practical understanding of at Exchange Greengate, and in past This general benevolence (it stops buildings and structures. He loved the months even helped a local councillor short of true understanding) towards the hands-on nature of the job and finding out in a campaign to save and find past, plus clean air and new techniques practical solutions to problems. His a place for Salford’s very own totem for cleaning buildings, has spruced up old long time at Salford, combined with pole – a link with native Americans towns sometimes to the point of vulgarity. the high regard in which he was held, going back to the 19th century. The Victorians would have been shocked meant that he was able to use fantastic Joe will be missed by all his many by the Australian colour fantasies applied to their decent by-law housing, not to networking skills to get things done. friends and colleagues at Salford mention the tarting up of medieval streets. It would be difficult to sum up all of and beyond: he was liked, loved and But by and large, and conspicuously in Joe’s achievements. He loved Ordsall respected by so many. He leaves a very the north, the transformation has been Hall (now undergoing major restoration) large and loving family, including his miraculous. ‘Operation Eyesore’, whereby and Worsley Court House. He was wife Carole and their three children. the black cotton towns of Lancashire excited by recent archaeological digs Chris Findley washed and revealed their tawny Victorian public buildings, their intricate steeples and grand classical porticoes, while every tiny terraced cottage followed suit in its own fashion, has turned out one of the high points of our 20th century urban history. The unhappiest aspect of populist preservation is its negativity: ‘anything new is worse’. In… extreme forms… this is a national psychosis with obvious political connections. Deeply humiliated by their decline from greatness, the British look around on their society and do not like what they see – and they take it out on what has always been the mirror of society: its architecture.

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 7 ICOMOS-CIVVIH conference, Valletta Historic cities and sustainable urban development

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) boasts a score of scientific committees that address various cultural heritage themes and issues, from underwater and polar heritage, through documentation and training, to 20th century heritage and tourism. These committees undertake research, develop guidelines, and promote international exchanges and projects. One of the largest and most active of these committees is that devoted to historic towns and villages, namely Grand harbour, Valletta CIVVIH (Comité International sur les Villes et Villages Historiques). The 2010 annual meeting of this committee was held in the Maltese capital Valletta, with the theme of ‘The historic city, a reference model for urban sustainable development policies’. At a time when governments and communities across the continents are responding to the priorities of environmental sustainability and the challenges of climate change, to what extent can characteristics attributable to historic cities guide development in our increasingly urbanised world? Helen Maistrou, professor in the department of architecture, National Technical University of Athens, stressed the coincidence between sustainable development and the conservation of historic cities. Both emphasise Valletta’s main square has recently been cleared of cars and re-landscaped. quality of life and support cultural diversity. Sustainability addresses the redevelopment, and whose conservation as possessing many of the attributes maintenance and improvement of programme Logan later led. that accord with today’s concept of ecological systems, and the articulation Diana Belci, an urban planner from the sustainable city. They are rooted of the city as an ecosystem dates back Romania’s second city of Timişoara, in their natural environments, adapted at least to the time of Patrick Geddes. presented the integrated heritage to them climatically, human in scale, Prioritising the use of local resources and community-led strategic plan for closely knit, multifunctional and have a and the support of local economies quarters of the city, its current phased strong sense of belonging and identity. applies to both, as do the principles implementation with the support of The position paper closes by affirming of minimum intervention, reuse and European Union funds, and the status that ‘historic cities may be seen as a the recycling of wastes. Maistrou of the project as a model for a large source of knowledge for the functional urged greater interaction and the city in post-communist Europe. and social organisation and spatial strengthening of these coincidences The meeting concluded by adopting distribution of urban activities and to the objective of positioning urban the Valletta Position Paper on historic natural elements, and an archetype conservation as a determining factor cities. This opens by iterating that for cities seeking sustainability. in sustainable development. non-renewable resources are at the They minimise the use of resources, The empowerment of citizens and heart of the debate on sustainable favour interaction and solidarity, local communities is central to the development and climate change, and secure cultural continuity.’ catchphrase of ‘think global, act local’. and that these include extracted In an age when critics claim that The meeting was given two examples materials, fossil fuels and the heritage. historic buildings are obsolete in the of this in practice. David Logan, a Thus the heritage in a broad sense face of the challenges of climate change, heritage consultant from Sydney, should be considered the starting positioning historic cities at the centre of spoke of the historical example of the point for planning and development the sustainability debate is most timely. unwavering union-led opposition that in a sustainable society. Historic Dennis Rodwell, consultant in cultural saved the Rocks area of that city from cities are characterised in the paper heritage and sustainable urban development.

8 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Periodically

As political and professional pressures insulation and double glazing. While grow to address concerns about Yates spells out principles of reducing climate change, the recent cold winter energy use and reducing energy has focused some attention on the impact, the Ecohome he illustrates thermal efficiency of Victorian housing. in Nottingham shows the subtle In his editorial in the latest issue of degradation of character by appearing The Victorian (March 2010, No 33) to have uPVC windows, certainly an Ian Dungavell highlights his conversation unsympathetic uPVC front door and with a journalist from The Times. a large front roof-slope solar panel. He was asked if, as a result of all the Robert Pruett describes a radical ice and snow, we should be demolishing approach to energy conservation to Victorian housing and erecting new a 1840s house in the De Beauvoir insulated boxes instead. Given that Conservation Area in Hackney. This the Energy Saving Trust estimates is producing projected annual energy that four-fifths of the houses that bills of under £100 (at current prices), will be standing in 2050 have already but for an installation cost of £60,000. been built, the challenge is what to This includes internal insulation which do with the existing stock, one in five eats into floorplans and disrupts the of which was built before 1919. skirtings, cornices and architraves. This issue does not offer definitive It might be argued that in world Context (112, November 2009) on answers but publishes some thoughts heritage sites the heritage constraints the history of listing, there is a long about the potential architectural impact, would be greater still. Adam Wilkinson and thought-provoking paper from some of which will be familiar. Tim of Edinburgh World Heritage explains Peter Larkham about the emerging Yates, technical director of the Building how a typical baronial-Georgian- ideas about conservation during and Research Establishment, outlines the revival tenement block of 1875 was immediately after world war two, as potential of the Code for Sustainable upgraded sympathetically using several exemplified by the treatment of bombed Homes and the emission reduction of the techniques suggested above by churches, especially in London. targets we require, and emphasises Tim Yates: secondary (rather than One of the interesting aspects is the value of some of the more obvious double) glazing; (low-key) insulation; the evaluation and evolving criteria low-cost, simple improvements draught-proofing; and a ground- developed to consider whether the that can deliver real benefits. source heat pump. This was perhaps degree of destruction should lead to These include basic loft and cavity more of a practical proposition reconstruction in emulation of the wall insulation, upgraded and efficient where 17 dwellings were involved. original or as new work (and if the boilers and heating systems, solid wall Jessica Snow reports on Historic latter, in what style), or preservation Scotland’s recent research aimed at as ruins (as memorials), or clearance. improving the thermal performance Those concepts might today be of timber sash windows. The thrust of usefully revisited in the aftermath of, this was also covered in some depth in for example, a serious fire. Larkham Chris Wood’s presentation to the IHBC relates these criteria to the thinking Buxton School in 2009 (see Context 111, of the SPAB at the time and to the September 2009). One solution, of contemporary published views of James course, is to wear warmer clothes, Lees-Milne, Lord Esher, HS Goodhart- ‘accepting a lower level of thermal Rendell and John Summerson, among comfort than we have been used to others. The article also looks at how over the last twenty years’ but this has this diverse advice was distilled by the been dubbed the Chilblain Charter. Ministry of Works; through Geoffrey The annual Transactions of the Jellicoe in the Architectural Review Ancient Monuments Society (Vol 54, in 1944; and in the book Bombed 2010) is one of the few heritage Churches as War Memorials, published publications able to deal with subjects by the Architectural Press in 1945. at great length. It has a propensity A curiosity explained in depth is for featuring architectural history the architectural consequences of rather than aspects aligned closely to keeping domestic (not feral) pigeons professional practice. Nevertheless, in parish churches (columbaria), hard on the heels of the last issue of recorded and initially published in

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 9 1888 by the distinguished architect Nicholas Hawksmoor. Hume, who was JT Micklethwaite, and studied in recent project engineer for the 1979-83 repairs, times by Frank Pexton (to whom the reflects on the engineering problems article is dedicated) until his death in faced and poses the question of whether 2006. Enquiries were made by Pexton a different approach would have been about all the surviving examples. taken if the work were done today. He Nine are described and illustrated. concludes three decades on that ‘it is They are widely geographically difficult to see where improvements to spread, being found in Herefordshire, the repair processes could have been Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcestershire, made’ and that ‘it illustrates many of Nottinghamshire, Gloucestershire the points of good conservation’. and Pembrokeshire. Notes of others Another highly challenging structural were documented in the 19th century, engineering marvel is the Great Staircase but the physical evidence is lost. at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire, designed The Transactions also have articles initially by Matthew Brettingham and about medieval muniment rooms, their James Paine around 1579, and completed furniture, fittings and information by Robert Adam in 1765. Concern by retrieval systems, with particular the National Trust about the condition reference to those developed by of this daring cantilevered stone staircase Oxford University between c1250 had led to restricted access to upper particular reference to the Silk Road. and the mid-17th century; and floor rooms. The article explains in Enrico Fodde explains the diverse a detailed architectural, historic detail the evaluation of the defects, the approaches to philosophical and and socio-economic evaluation options to improve its robustness in use ethical conservation issues dealt of East and West End Terrace, a and the repairs undertaken in 2008, with by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, rare survival of listed back-to-back permitting the rooms accessed from it Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and industrial mill-workers’ houses in to be better used, and allowing the full Turkmenistan (all semi-autonomous the Derwent Valley, Derbyshire. architectural impact of the Great Stair republics of the USSR until 1991). With heritage protection reform to be appreciated without the need for This region may be little known to promoting ‘artistic’ in addition to unnecessary structural intervention. us, but a case study of the conservation archaeological, architectural and historic An article entitled ‘Heritage issues facing the great mosque in interest, more attention may now turn management and community Samarkand (one of the great examples to the importance of public sculpture connections – on the Rocks’ might of Timurid architecture), two other and statuary – its aesthetic value and initially lead the reader to anticipate regional cases and a discussion of its conservation. An article in the latest some disaster. But the Rocks in the disappearance of vernacular issue of the Journal of Architectural question is a historic precinct of Sydney, architecture give a fascinating insight Conservation (Vol 16, No 1, March 2010) Australia. The article deals with the into problems as far removed from our explaining the use of laser cleaning diverse and flexible techniques used to own interminably evolving heritage in the conservation of public copper- connect with and involve residents and protection reforms as it is possible alloy monuments in the UK, is timely. other stakeholders in the preparation to imagine. Fodde concludes with a The use of laser cleaning has grown of a heritage management plan. message of optimism engendered by steadily in this country since 1994, The Journal of Architectural ICOMOS and UNESCO activities but it is only rarely used on large-scale Conservation’s international coverage in the region since perestroika. outdoor projects, where the application is concluded by a paper on the Turning from internationalism to lags behind that used by museums. conservation and conflicts in heritage localism, and an encouraging sign Helen Thompson and Martin Cooper management in central Asia, with of local distinctiveness, the January show how the technique has been 2010 issue of Natural Stone Specialist applied to a large monument to Lord reports on the development of Brinscall Nelson and an imposing equestrian Quarry near Chorley in Lancashire. statue of King Edward VII, both in Until recently this had been producing Liverpool. The before and after impacts aggregates, but new owners intend to are illustrated, partly in colour. Laser produce dimensioned stone blocks so cleaning removed layers of paint and that this much-admired, fine-grained corrosive products which had proved gritstone can be used in masonry resistant to other cleaning methods. and paving in the north west. It minimised the loss of surface The quarry was opened a century material but required protective wax ago to supply local builders, but coatings to blend with stable sulphate not used for this purpose recently. corrosion which had been retained. Encouragingly, there are consented An interesting counterpoint to current stone reserves for another 40 years. practice is provided by Ian Hume’s The company, the Armstrong Group, revisitation of the reconstruction of the has also recently acquired Montcliff columns supporting the Mausoleum Quarry on the outskirts of Bolton, at Castle Howard, which had required adding another gritstone quarry to its urgent intervention 30 years ago. The portfolio. This may encourage renewed Grade I listed building was constructed use of this distinctive building material. between 1729 and 1743 to the design of Bob Kindred MBE

10 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Working with building preservation trusts

Fulfilling the potential of building preservation trusts depends on the right organisations, the right partnerships and the right people. James Moir, guest commissioning editor, introduces this issue of Context in which we review the most inspiring experience.

A once splendid building, now decayed, derelict, beyond Since the 1980s, the public sector has become hope. The solution? Here is a group expecting to be emaciated to the point where it can no longer support given this precious piece of our culture (often for a pep- the notion of a public mission – the duty to provide percorn) with a promise, often on a wing and a prayer, certain sorts of goods and services just because to return it to the market in pristine condition. they are in the public interest. As the public sector is But let’s rewind there. Here is a building that no one is forced to withdraw from using its powers to secure our quite prepared to take ownership of or responsibility for. heritage, the third sector is correspondingly sucked There has been a seismic market failure, the building a into bolstering the delivery of frontline services in the symbol of negligence on a grand scale, the victim of an fields of health, education and policing. By contrast, as inheritance squabble, industrial collapse or policy shift. a result of the increasingly close conversation between The building carries with it a burden far beyond the the public and private sector, the latter in particular physical scars of its manifest dereliction. has stepped in to fill the role of historic environment It is that lack of action that motivates the group, champion, embracing the notion of regeneration and which shares a passion fuelled, one suspects, by a sustainability. complex bundle of perceptions: neglected buildings as One of the critical pillars in the enabling camp, the places of childhood exploration; neglected buildings funders inevitably have enormous strains placed on as opportunities to explore questions of history, value, them as a result of low interest rates and competition. meaning, memory; and, most important, neglected It is not just that the funding pot is contracting. Complex buildings as eyesores and frustrations that offend our funding packages need to be constructed against sense of place. If no one else will accept the challenge criteria which address a whole new set of political, of breathing new life into an empty shell, why should not social and economic agendas. End uses have to cater that peculiarly idiosyncratic British construct, the third for much more diverse needs. Most projects carry an sector – historically diverse, powerful, effective and added responsibility to create a thriving, buzzing new skilled in so many spheres – reclaim it and return it to hub for the community. The funds once targeted largely the community as an asset? at saving fabric are now being stretched to encompass Building preservation trusts (BPTs) have been doing the costs of delivering access, learning, community ben- precisely that for over quarter of a century. From infancy efits and skills programmes. The funds once targeted at to maturity, the movement has grown steadily, unassum- saving a whole range of building types are increasingly ingly. BPTs have rescued over 1,000 historic structures, restricted to those of very exceptional quality. Widening varying enormously from windmills to warehouses. This the remit and raising the bar has emptied the central volume of activity has pumped some £1 billion of funds pot, often leaving a vacuum that translates into chronic into regenerating buildings that would otherwise have conservation deficits. been lost. What of those who deliver the projects? BPTs have The statistics speak for themselves. But BPTs can achieved so much, and yet as the studies undertaken not and should not claim all the credit. Imagine three on building preservation trusts (in Scotland (p20) and aligned plinths – the policy-makers on one, the enablers the East Midlands (p17)) show here, the movement is in the middle (enabling projects to happen by using at a crossroads. Most trusts struggle to deliver increas- enforcement powers or administering funding streams), ingly complex projects resulting in, as Andrew Beckett’s the deliverers of projects (BPTs) on the third. The study shows (p13), the decline of the revolving-fund portfolio of successful projects has been built on this model. This means that many BPTs fail to retain or delicate triumvirate of interests working, if not always in secure any reserves to fund core activities. And despite absolute harmony, then at least with a collective interest statistics suggesting that the historic environment in tackling problem buildings. supports numerous volunteers, many of the baby-boom It is clear that the whole landscape of building pres- generation have palpably withdrawn their services from ervation has changed, dislodging most of the original third sector engagement, with many voluntary organisa- occupiers and perhaps even shifting the original plinths tions struggling to recruit trustees or re-energise their out of alignment. In the short term, those who formulate commitment. Potential recruits are perhaps driven away and dictate policy are faced with political uncertainty because a number of BPTs have become involved in amid the impact of global recession. In the longer term, monstrously large undertakings. BPTs, like many third we have become consumed by materialism, seduced by sector organisations, are struggling to unite profes- the cult of privatisation. sional staff and volunteers in pursuit of a shared vision.

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 11 Despite this challenging backdrop, there are signs There are a host of other potential enablers not emerging that the plinths are being re-aligned and featured here, mainly because the conversations are re-populated once again. The policy makers are already only just beginning to take place. The core strat- stepping back up to the mark, offering olive branches egy of the UK Association of Preservation Trusts, in the form of a strategic vision for the historic environ- celebrating its 21st birthday this year, is to open up ment, compacts to encourage local partnerships, and facilitate these discussions with stakeholders such support for sustainable communities. The enablers as government departments and agencies, universities, – the funders – are exploring proposals to cater for volunteering networks, and other heritage and third and prioritise buildings at risk, and are beginning to talk sector organisations. about shifting from one-off grants to investment escala- UK APT sees such partnerships as being crucial to tors. It is also good to see funders coming together to the re-establishment of the revolving-fund trust model. ensure that some useful toolkits are being put in place, For partnerships to flourish, new infrastructures are such as the forthcoming guidance on asset transfer also required. We need to introduce new mechanisms as featured in Nicholas Falk’s article (p29). With some for financing BPTs by adapting and developing ideas eight per cent of buildings at risk being in the hands being embraced elsewhere in the third sector, such of local planning authorities, these provide excellent as community interest companies, community shares route maps for BPTs to navigate a way through the and new micro-banking opportunities. Second, the complexities of partnership projects. wide-ranging activities undertaken by BPTs other than BPTs need easier routes and encouragement to tackling buildings at risk (as recognised in the Scottish tap into this pool of goodwill. They need to familiarise study of BPTs) need to be supported in such a way that themselves with the new language of social enterprise they become core income-generating functions rather and sustainability. BPTs need to work more closely with than distracting diversions. Finally, there would appear the enablers and funders to smooth the process of to be a role for developing a dedicated pool of BPT transfer of redundant buildings. They need to increase project organisers, to ensure that skills are retained in engagement with their communities, embracing the the BPT family and as a means of building BPTs into new social media tools to ensure they are tapping more resilient organisations. into all the benefits of local knowledge and skills, and There is a danger that all such initiatives will fail cajoling those who have become too ready to sit back unless the middle plinth is fully populated. In the present and allow the environment to crumble around them. climate it is increasingly worrying to see local planning The Heritage Trust for Lincolnshire’s pioneering project authorities being forced to desert their positions. (p42) is an inspirational first step in how to harness new BPTs need to do all that they can to consolidate their blood – in this case, volunteers to map buildings at risk relationships with the planning authorities they engage across the county. with. At the basic level, a dialogue must be maintained There are other initiatives that demonstrate the with officers over problem buildings and development benefits to be derived from close partnership working opportunities. On a secondary level, BPTs need to with those delivering the social agenda. Stephen Copp demonstrate to planning authorities that they can (p23) and Marcus Patton (p27) demonstrate that BPTs absorb the impact of repairs notices and compulsory can play a crucial role in addressing the reservoir of purchase orders, and have the capacity to deliver on 500,000 homes lying empty (enough, apparently, to townscape heritage initiatives, empty dwelling manage- put a roof over the head of a quarter of the families ment orders, the provision of loan guarantees, or the on council house waiting lists) by close cooperation transfer of heritage assets. with housing associations. In terms of regeneration, On a tertiary level, planning authorities are prime BPTs have also been instrumental in delivering heritage sources, if increasingly not of funding themselves, then economic regeneration schemes, conservation area for unlocking wider funding opportunities There are, for James Moir is director partnership schemes (CAPS) and more recently town- example, discussions to be held as to how commuted of the UK Association of Preservation Trusts. The scape heritage initiative schemes – as demonstrated sums could be usefully channelled into promoting hous- voice of 270 building here in the remarkable track record of the Fife Historic ing regeneration schemes, or how the judicious use of preservation trusts, UK APT promotes and Buildings Trust (p31). In Northern Ireland, Portaferry is enabling agreements can help BPTs deliver sustainable supports the rescue and ripe for the formation of a new BPT to work in partner- solutions for historic assets in major developments. UK sustainable use of historic buildings at risk. It aims ship with the town’s regeneration agency (p34). APT’s key aim, therefore, is to explore how planning to raise the profile of its Finally, BPTs are in some instances adopting a more authorities and BPTs can work together to manage members by representing them at government bullish approach. Rather than being seen as developers risk, both in the form of buildings and as a collective level and promoting their of last resort, they can work with developers to deliver responsibility to create excellent places. work to wider audiences. BPTs meet regularly less intensive solutions on sites where historic assets This issue of Context is one step. Many of the themes at area meetings, and need to be brought back into use. Debbie Dance will be expanded on at a joint conference (see www. nationally at seminars and conferences. UK explores the creative partnership between the Oxford investinginthepast.co.uk). As Stephen Earl’s article APT provides further Preservation Trust, Oxford City Council and a private demonstrates (p44) at a local level, and Laura Norris’ information to its members through developer that transformed the Oxford Castle site into article (p40) at a national level, where BPTs work guidance notes and a major leisure venue through the use of a section 106 closely with local authorities, officers and councillors, a newsletters. See www. ukapt.org.uk. agreement (p37). remarkable community vision can be realised.

12 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 ANDREW BECKETT BPTs and revolving fund activity Economic uncertainty, the curtailment of grant programmes and public spending cuts have brought the building preservation trust movement to crisis point.

Higherford Mill at Nelson, Lancashire. In 1995 the then owner applied for planning permission to demolish the mill in order to build 23 houses on the site. After a five-year campaign which included objecting to a succession of planning applications (all refused), the trust was finally able to purchase the building in 2000. Since then the trust has carried out a phased programme of restoration costing £1 million, converting the mill into 34 workshop studios for the creative industries. The trust has a policy of retaining all the buildings it restores, deriving revenue funding from them for future projects.

Ever since the 1971 Civic Trust report led to the creation of the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF), the Building Preservation Trust (BPT) movement has been a vital component in the armoury of historic building conservation. BPTs act as a third force, dis- tinct from government and the private sector, channel- ling a deep pool of popular enthusiasm and creativity into tackling buildings that would otherwise be lost. However, recently the movement has reached a crisis point, with the severe economic turmoil being compounded by the curtailment of funders’ grant programmes and by reductions in public spending. Heritage open day at When attempting to chart a strategy for the future, Hungerford Mill it is clear that very little empirical research has been undertaken into the field. Table 1: AHF-listed building preservation trusts: The traditional modus operandi of many BPTs relevant expenditure by trust type has been to acquire, restore and then sell on historic Number of Relevant Average per Trust type buildings at risk, with any surplus being re-invested in trusts expenditure (£) trust (£) future projects. In 2008 there were 120 BPT members operating in England on the AHF-maintained list of Volunteer 94 1,400,763 14,902 revolving fund projects. Financial data has been used Single-site 4 277,573 69,393 to assess the activity of these trusts, with care taken to exclude peripheral or complementary activities to Professional 6 4,204,231 700,705 focus exclusively on completed projects (see Table 1). Heritage 16 923,452 57,715 Four basic types of revolving fund BPT have Total 120 6,806,019 56,717 been identified as part of this research. Although

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 13 Table 2: Projects undertaken 2000–2008, by project and trust type

Total Proportion of Annual average Number of Average project Project type Trust type investment (£) total value (%) (£) projects value (£)

Preservation Not AHF-listed 94,706,258 63 11,838,282 33 2,869,887

Preservation AHF-listed 30,485,642 20 3,810,705 39 781,683

Revolving fund AHF-listed 25,954,657 17 3,244,332 26 998,256

Totals 151,146,557 18,893,320 98 1,542,312

the volunteer-run trusts are the largest grouping, preservation projects are now the norm even in AHF- collectively they do not account for much building listed trusts. project activity. Many well established BPTs have The Heritage Lottery Fund has had a significant very significant other operations, having moved away impact on BPT activity. Over the eight years to 2008 from the active pursuit of BPT projects to become 40 per cent of all English project funding came in the more widely based heritage trusts. However, it is the form of HLF grants. In many cases this was the key handful of professional trusts, such as the Spitalfields, to unlocking other sources of funding. However, the Landmark, Vivat and Heritage Trust for the North HLF objectives of learning, conservation and par- West, which predominate. ticipation have not always worked well in a revolving The AHF publishes details on completed projects, fund context. The HLF tends to favour projects with including those by single-site trusts not on the revolv- a continuing public involvement over those where the ing fund list. Between 2000 and 2008 a total of property is sold on completion. 98 such AHF-assisted projects were completed in The standard HLF condition that any surpluses England. Both projects types, those retained by the arising from a sale of a revolving fund building trust following restoration (preservation) and those should be clawed back has tended to undermine sold (revolving fund), were further analysed as to BPTs’ traditional ability to re-invest these towards whether the undertaking trust was AHF-listed or not. future projects. In addition, whereas the HLF is Table 2 shows that the wider BPT movement is now happy to fund external private consultants employed dominated by the non-revolving-fund preservation in the delivery of projects, it recompenses trusts trusts, which are exclusively focused on single sites. only on a marginal-cost basis if such work is done If AHF-listed trusts are also considered, preservation in-house. Both of these mechanisms work to weaken projects now account for 83 per cent of all BPT activ- BPT finances and undermine the trusts’ ability to ity. This has resulted in a heavy reliance on grants and undertake future projects. donations, with 96 per cent of all English BPT activity Although the activities of the HLF have favoured over the years 2000–2008 being funded in this way. single-site conservation projects, on its own this does These findings show the extent to which the BPT not fully account for the decline in revolving-fund sector has become dominated by preservation projects projects which thrived perfectly well until the 1990s. which are reliant on grants in place of the more One explanation is the lack of potential projects. traditional revolving fund projects. Single-site BPTs The findings of my dissertation have echoed those of have been the growth area over the last decade and other recent research, such as that by Ela Palmer, in

Victoria Street, Nelson, before (left) and after (right). The trust has restored a former corner shop, now used as a conservation shop.

14 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 concluding that while there is no overall shortage of buildings at risk, in some areas the supply of buildings traditionally adopted as classic BPT projects is less than it was. Where such buildings are available, competition from private buyers and developers pushes the price/ risk equation further than BPTs are generally willing to accept. The long property boom of 1998-2007 has placed a high value on even the most unlikely of derelict buildings. Rather than acquiring a building for a comparatively token sum, BPTs have been faced with significant price competition for prospective revolving fund projects. The prevailing view has been that BPTs are devel- An enthusiastic visitor in the kitchen at 14 Maurice Street opers of last resort, taking on a project only when the after restoration market has failed. In the 1970s and 1980s this allowed BPTs a relatively free hand in the field as property annual report being by BPTs. The way to reverse developers had little involvement in historic building this would appear to be to increase the number of restoration. However, since the 1990s the private sec- professional trusts, or for volunteer trusts to have tor has entered this market on an unprecedented scale. access to experienced project organisers from within Two of the largest companies in this sector, Urban the movement. Splash and PJ Livesey, annually account for over £100 The direction in which the sector has been moving, million of activity alone, clearly dwarfing the whole of towards single-site BPTs, tends to mitigate against the BPT sector. These private-sector companies have such developments. Indeed, the nature of such trusts demonstrated that profitable and successful projects means that they generally do not have the experience can be delivered, even where there are significant or skills to undertake projects without outside help. acquisition costs and little or no public subsidy. The AHF has recognised this weakness and has While it may make sense for BPTs not to be involved refocused its grant-giving programme towards helping where the private sector achieves perfectly acceptable them. In 2007–8 the AHF awarded £569,673 in results, a considerable number of commercially driven options appraisal and project development grants, restorations do involve an unacceptable degree of the majority going to single-site trusts. On the face compromise. Developers often use the conservation of it, this policy would appear to be successful. But deficit as leverage to gain extra planning concessions. as most of this is spent with external consultants, an As BPTs are not active in this market, developers can unintended consequence is that once such projects are claim that there is no alternative to their enabling completed, the knowledge and experience gained is development or intensive remodelling if the building not necessarily retained within the movement. is to be saved. The self-exclusion of BPTs from such The key issue facing the stakeholders is how to projects has more to do with focus and capability build and maintain professional capacity, and yet to than with any conflict of interest with their charitable achieve this within current funding constraints. This objects. As the history of revolving fund projects has will require some new thinking and a willingness to demonstrated, there is no inherent problem in making change many aspects of the current modes of opera- a surplus on a project, especially where enhanced tion. This may take the form of a cadre of professional conservation is the outcome. project organisers working within the BPT movement The main difference, irrespective of project type, and the strengthening of the existing larger trusts to between developers and all but a few BPTs is that the create a tier of super trusts. These could form a profes- private companies have sufficient skills and experi- sional back-bone of the movement and be of sufficient ence to tackle major projects and manage financial stature to enter into partnerships with smaller trusts, risk. The findings in Table 1 would suggest that this regional development agencies, English Heritage and capability is achieved with a core of professional staff. private developers. Few volunteer-based BPTs seem to be able to sustain At the same time the sector, particularly the HLF, periods of considerable activity, due to the increasingly needs to reconsider the approach to revolving fund onerous conditions and bureaucracy entailed with projects. Whereas preservation projects are fully major grant applications. This is compounded by an dependent on grants and donations, it often only evident bias of the larger HLF grant awards towards requires the bridging of a small conservation deficit Andrew Beckett has organisations which have a track record of delivery, to make a revolving fund project viable. Consequently recently completed an MSc in historic thereby placing most volunteer and especially single- grant aid directed to such projects is much more effec- conservation at Oxford site BPTs at a distinct disadvantage. tive than towards preservation projects. A revitalised Brookes University, following a career (still As a result, BPTs did not fully exploit the opportu- revolving fun movement could again prove a major continuing) in finance nities offered through HLF funding, with only eight force within conservation and build capacity that is and business. This article is based on the findings of of the 300 UK-wide projects listed in the HLF 2008 much less exposed to the vagaries of public funding. his dissertation.

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16 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 DAVID TREVIS-SMITH BPT activity in the East Midlands The UK Association of Preservation Trusts is exploring new approaches to building the capacity of building preservation trusts across the region. Research provides some clues.

7–13 Bridge Street, Horncastle. East Lindsey District Council served a compulsory purchase order on the building in a back-to-back deal with the Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire. The buildings have retained their commercial use and provide accommodation for a local community organisation.

The East Midlands consists of five counties (Derbyshire, Not all authorities responded to the monitoring Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and report surveys, so the numbers of buildings at risk Northamptonshire) and four unitary districts (Derby given should be viewed as an understatement. There is City, Leicester City, Nottingham City and Rutland no statutory duty for authorities to compile lists. Those County). It is one of England’s most diverse regions. authorities that have provided numbers of buildings at Unlike most other regions, the East Midlands has no risk may not have reviewed their own lists for a number dominant regional capital. of years. This state of affairs is not unique to the East The UK Association of Preservation Trusts Midlands. (UKAPT), the Architectural Heritage Fund and English Heritage (EH) have identified the East Buildings at risk by county Midlands as an area where building preservation trust (BPT) activity has in the past been strong but is currently at a relatively low level. What has changed? Are there no more buildings at risk in the region? Ela Palmer Heritage was commis- sioned by UKAPT, with financial support from English Heritage, to investigate reasons for the apparent decline in activity, and examine the need and potential for new projects. The study found that changes in the political, social and economic environment, and in funding policies, have contributed to changes in how Of the total number of buildings at risk in the region, BPTs operate. Pockets of activity do remain, including 89 per cent are listed Grade II, six per cent Grade II*, some of the more active building preservation trusts of three per cent Grade I, and two per cent locally listed any region in the UK. or important buildings within a conservation area. This article presents a summary of the study find- The Heritage at Risk Register maintained by English ings and points at where it might lead in terms of new Heritage currently records Grade I and II* buildings ways to build the capacity of BPTs to rescue historic and, as such, only monitors nine per cent of the buildings at risk. estimated total of such buildings in the region. Each county reported numbers of buildings at risk Detailed information is patchy but the study has to the regional spatial strategy for the East Midlands been able to collate data on approximately 20 per cent monitoring report for 2007–2008 (published in of the total number, to give a picture of the type of 2009). This indicates over 1,650 buildings at risk problems faced by buildings at risk across the region, across the region. as summarised by the tables.

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 17 Buildings at risk by condition movement, and two of them employ staff. Single-site projects focus on diverse structures such as a weir, places of worship (four), windmills (two), houses (two) and a museum. Figures provided by the AHF, the most specific funder of early-stage BPT projects, show that 27 East Midlands BPT projects have been awarded funds over the past five years, indicating a recent activity rate of around five projects starting each year. While this demonstrates that BPTs continue to be an effective vehicle for rescuing buildings at risk, there is clearly a significant mismatch between this level of activity and Buildings at risk by occupancy the scale of the challenge of over 800 buildings at risk across the region. The main issues to emerge from this research are: Local authority perspective 1. While there is often strong public support at a local level for specific buildings at risk, there is a generally low public awareness of the number of buildings at risk in the region. 2. Heritage protection can be perceived as oppos- ing regeneration, whereas heritage elements can add significant benefit to regeneration schemes. There At over 50 per cent, the number of vacant buildings is scope for a much greater partnership between at risk approximately corresponds to those with a organisations and departments involved with heritage condition category of poor, very bad or unknown. This protection and those involved with economic and would often be the type of building most likely to be community regeneration. taken on by a BPT once identified to be feasible. If this 3. The number of buildings at risk currently far 20 per cent sample is representative of the whole, it outweighs the rate at which solutions are found, some indicates that there are currently around 800 potential of which are solutions through BPT projects. BPT projects spread across the East Midlands region. 4. More than half of buildings at risk are unoccupied. There are currently 22 BPTs in the East Midlands 5. Most buildings at risk are in private or unknown which are registered with UKAPT or the Architectural ownership. Heritage Fund, or known to the local authority. 6. BPTs can be an effective way to engage with Derbyshire has eight BPTs (one county-wide) and communities. 240 reported buildings at risk. Lincolnshire has seven 7. BPTs offer a long-term commitment to the chal- BPTs (one county-wide) and 359 reported buildings at lenge of buildings at risk, as independent organisations risk. Leicestershire has four BPTs (one county-wide) less vulnerable to changing priorities of the political or and 150 reported buildings at risk. Nottinghamshire market conditions of the day. has one BPT (county-wide) and 394 reported build- 8. There is patchy geographical coverage of BPTs ings at risk. Northamptonshire has two BPTs (none across the region. Local authority officers who have county-wide) and 509 reported buildings at risk. experienced the work of BPTs generally wish to In addition there are BPTs with a national remit encourage more BPT activity. that may engage in projects in any region. An example 9. Local authorities use enforcement powers with is the Vivat Trust, which has recently worked in reluctance. Having more BPTs ready to take on partnership with the Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire. buildings at risk (such as through ‘back-to-back’ The Vivat Trust now manages as a holiday home Mill agreements) could encourage a greater use of the Hill Cottage, Newport, a former Heritage Trust of available enforcement powers. Lincolnshire project. Building preservation trust perspective Over time BPTs have become diverse in nature, in 1. There is a low public awareness of what BPTs do. terms of objectives, structure and activity. Although 2. There are very low levels of core funding for BPTs. the perception is that the region is not active, the East Funding is primarily project-based, resulting in profes- Midlands contains two of the UK’s most successful sional advice being project-specific and providing very trusts: Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire (a county-wide little longer-term benefits of capacity-building. trust established on a revolving fund basis) and the 3. Project funding to initiate projects often relies heavily Arkwright Society (an evolved single-site trust.) Other on AHF grants, with very few other funding sources for county-wide trusts have matured into grant-giving or this early phase of project work. In the current economic advisory bodies, and two employ professional staff. climate, there is pressure on the AHF budget which may Three trusts with a single community remit (city, impact on early stage funding for new BPT projects. town, and village) have evolved from the Civic Trust 4. Project funding to implement BPT projects over

18 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Cromford Station’s west platform building has been repaired and converted by the Arkwright Society. The mid-Victorian building provides two office suites for rent. The upside waiting room has been transformed by its private owner into a holiday let. recent years has relied heavily on Heritage Lottery from the trust’s own activities, to support paid staff. Fund grants and, to a lesser extent, English Heritage 2. The revolving-fund BPT model would benefit from grants. The HLF’s budget has been reduced in its a different approach by funding providers, to encour- current strategic plan and English Heritage’s grants age more activity and enable such BPTs to become focus on the nine per cent of listed buildings in the increasingly self-sufficient by growing their own funds region that are Grade I and II*. Obtaining funding through successfully completed projects. for buildings at risk that are Grade II, locally listed 3. BPTs will benefit from making connections with or important buildings within conservation areas is relevant people within local authorities (property serv- therefore increasingly competitive. ices and regeneration, not just conservation), English 5. HLF funding rules encourage single-project or area Heritage, the regional development agency (EMDA in BPTs (which retain ownership of the rescued building) the case of the East Midlands), civic societies, and the rather than revolving-fund BPTs (which dispose of various regeneration and third sector organisations, as the rescued building). This has the effect of reduc- well as building on contacts with other heritage groups ing capacity building, with project expertise staying and educational establishments. within the single-project or area BPT rather than being 4. There is untapped potential for a more extensive applied to the next project of a revolving-fund BPT. partnership approach to heritage-led regeneration 6. BPT projects have the potential to tap into additional schemes in recognition of the economic benefits of sources of partnership funding, to reduce the depend- including heritage elements within such schemes. ence on heritage-related funding. New approaches are required to tackle Grade II listed, 7. There is a low recruitment level of new volunteers locally listed and other important buildings within con- and trustees of BPTs, leading to an ageing member- servation areas, such as by developing initiatives with ship profile. private, public and third sector organisations. These 8. The sharing of expertise between BPTs is patchy, might include joint BPT/private developer projects using caused partly by the higher activity levels of single- section 106 agreements; joint BPT/registered social project and area BPTs compared with revolving-fund landlord projects; townscape heritage initiative schemes BPTs. operated by BPTs (as delivered in other regions, such as The number of buildings at risk in the East Midlands in Scotland by Beith BPT and Fife BPT); community compared with the existing capacity of organisations asset transfer projects involving partnerships between able to provide solutions, such as BPTs, requires a sig- development trusts and BPTs, such as a revolving-fund nificant change of gear by policy-makers and funding BPT carrying out the building conservation work and providers to enable a meaningful number of buildings acting as a conduit for transferring ownership from to be removed from their at-risk status. However, with the local authority to a development trust (to use the or without such a change, UKAPT believes a signifi- building as an operational base). cant increase in BPT activity levels can be achieved by 5. BPTs will benefit from activities to engage a new improving systems of support and encouragement for generation of supporters, such as the HLF- and existing BPTs. The report demonstrates the resilience English Heritage-supported heritage stewards initia- through diversity and adaptability of the BPT move- tive by Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire. This is attract- ment, and that there are both expanding and residual ing and training volunteers to assist with assessing the pools of energy and expertise to be tapped. condition of all heritage assets within the county. UKAPT believes that this diversity should be nur- 6. Existing and new BPTs would benefit from ini- tured. It would welcome comment from potential tiatives to share expertise, such as mentoring, work partner organisations to help develop the following placements from allied sectors and ways to enable concepts in response to this study: experienced BPT practitioners to support project David Trevis-Smith 1. Evidence shows that BPTs are able to achieve more development in other BPTs (perhaps by developing a is chair of the UK Association of where there is sufficient core funding, or residual income pool of BPT project organisers). Preservation Trusts.

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 19 SARAH JENKINS Building preservation trusts in Scotland The Scottish building preservation trusts movement is fighting to survive. Creating effective partnerships is essential for its continuing success.

The restoration of Castlemilk Stables involved a complex funding package and a strong partnership effort with Cassiltoun Housing Association. (Photo: Keith Hunter)

Building preservation trusts are charitable organisa- There are two main types of BPT. First, trusts tions whose fundamental aim is the preservation and which are set up to undertake multiple projects, some regeneration of historic buildings, particularly those of which are established to tackle particular types of that are unviable for the private sector. In recent years, buildings. Second, single trusts, which are normally the Scottish BPT movement has faced a number of established as a result of community concern for a challenges; perhaps most notably a serious economic specific local historic building. downturn and a decline in the amount of funding have The survey revealed that the Scottish BPT move- had detrimental effects on the movement. ment is well established. At least 90 trusts have been The number of Scottish historic buildings that are set up over the past 25 years. It is believed that there at risk and in need of restoration remains a concern: are currently 21 active single trusts and 28 active trusts there are 2,104 buildings on the Scottish Buildings capable of delivering multiple projects, including four at Risk Register (BARR). At a time of change for trusts that operate across the UK. Ten of these trusts the BPT sector, this is an opportunity to consider have not completed multiple projects yet but if a viable whether the current Scottish BPT model and the project in their area is identified they could be in a systems that support it are the most appropriate and position to lead on the restoration. effective. Based on available information, seven of the active In September 2009, ECOTEC Research and trusts operate across the whole of Scotland, 15 are Consulting Ltd (ECOTEC) was commissioned by regional or sub-regional, and 22 operate at a local Historic Scotland, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) level. The Scottish BPT movement has extensive and the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF), work- geographical coverage, but there is a particular cluster ing in partnership with the Association of Building in the central belt area and noteworthy cold spots Preservation Trusts (APT) Scotland, to undertake an across much of the highlands. objective review of the BPTs in Scotland. The research The primary objective of BPTs – the preservation involved a review of key research and data, a survey of and regeneration of historic buildings – remains all Scottish BPTs, consultations with BPTs and wider central to all trusts. However, the trusts that are stakeholders, and a good practice review. Some of the capable of undertaking multiple projects appear to be main findings are discussed here. undertaking a range of wider roles.

20 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Role Examples Environmental Economic Social Other Consultancy The Castles of Scotland Preservation Trust Reduce the Indirectly support Improve the hous- Enhance the provides advice and undertakes feasibility studies number of build- employment, ing offer through tourism offer and on behalf of other organisations. ings at risk. such as in the the provision of increase visitor Mentoring support Highlands BPT has provided project development Raise the profile construction new housing. spend. and project delivery support to a number of of historic build- sector. Improve access Share good smaller, less-experienced trusts, for example the ings at risk. Strengthen the to services and practice related Lewis and Harris BPT. Improve local business facilities through to restoring Open doors events Glasgow BPT delivers the annual Open Doors environmental base through the provision of historic buildings. Event in Glasgow. quality. the provision of new community Offer a vast workspace. facilities. Building management The Scottish Historic Buildings Trust has retained Contribute amount of advice five buildings, which it currently manages. to reducing Reduce the Provide an and guidance to potential long- opportunity for other voluntary Managing area-based The Fife Historic Buildings Trust has managed carbon dioxide emissions. term costs from local residents sector, private initiatives a number of townscape heritage initiatives on the continuing to take an active sector and behalf of Fife Council and acted as a mentor repair of historic part in their public sector to them on the delivery of a conservation area buildings at risk. heritage. organisations. regeneration scheme. Lever significant Raise the Stimulate Education The Heritage Building Preservation Trust has additional public skills and effective partner- worked with local schools to raise awareness and private capacity of local ships between of the importance of the historic environment sector funds. communities. the voluntary, among young people. Catalyse wider Actively encour- private and public Training The Scottish Lime Centre Trust provides training regeneration of age and develop sector. and education opportunities and offers advice to an area. high-quality, contractors working on historic buildings in order traditional craft to promote traditional building and craft skills. skills. In the majority of cases, BPTs are run entirely by vol- unteers. The survey revealed that at least 500 volunteers Glasgow City Council Scottish Borders Council are involved in the BPT movement across Scotland. Glasgow City Council recog- The Scottish Borders Council fully nises that the work of Glasgow acknowledges the important role However, projects are increasingly demanding far more BPT (GBPT) can contribute to its that BPTs play, stating that ‘there is time and resources from these individuals, so finding wider priorities: ‘BPTs are important a strong need for professional, full- for the bigger cities because they time and properly resourced BPTs appropriately skilled people who have the time to can be seen as part of the bigger to assist planning authorities… We support the BPT movement is becoming more difficult. regeneration of the area. Glasgow need an experienced professional to City Council has seen the work come up with a good delivery model The Scottish BPT movement also has 11 staffed trusts, of GBPT as part of its economic to tackle buildings at risk. That’s which have 24.5 members of staff between them. strategy.’ why we use the Alba Conservation This mix of professional and volunteer trusts is GBPT developed a business plan Trust; they have the skills, expertise that sets out how it will contribute and passion’. considered to be a great strength of the movement. to Glasgow City Council’s priorities. In partnership with the Alba Positively, the larger, professional trusts frequently As a result, it secured core funding Conservation Trust, the Scottish from the city council, which enables Borders Council jointly identifies provide support and guidance to the smaller trusts. it to play a greater role in the wider buildings, jointly funds options A significant amount of goodwill enables this to take regeneration of Glasgow. appraisals and jointly undertakes projects. When suitable projects place as funding does not sufficiently cover the costs arise, the Scottish Borders Council of this support. ECOTEC notes that the capacity, also works with local trusts. expertise and skills of the professional trusts needs to be recognised, and that their skills should be utilised The study reviewed the funding environment in to support the wider movement and enable complex which Scottish BPTs operate. The survey revealed that projects to be undertaken. the average BPT project costs around £1.1 million. Scottish BPTs have successfully completed over The BPT movement is heavily reliant on grant funding. 110 projects, some of which include the restoration Three main funders include Historic Scotland, which of more than one building. More projects are under awarded £11.4 million to Scottish BPTs since 1999; the way. In support of the Scottish Government’s priority HLF, which awarded £21.3 million to Scottish BPTs to improve the state of Scotland’s historic buildings, since 1999; and the AHF, which provided £1.2 million monuments and environment, as measured by the in non-refundable grants, and £8.6 million in loans to percentage of A-listed buildings on the BARR (which Scottish BPTs since 1999. was established in 1990), the BPT movement has Despite tapping into a range of different funding removed at least 43 buildings from the BARR. There sources and utilising their own funds, BPTs have is a need, however, more effectively to prioritise the reported a number of funding gaps or deficiencies. buildings at risk in Scotland. ECOTEC recommends These include capital funding, funding for administra- that Historic Scotland, with the support of the local tion costs, project development, emergency repairs, authorities, should take responsibility for developing a rural buildings, and mentoring. In response to these strategy for prioritising buildings at risk on the BARR. ECOTEC identifies a number of recommendations for In terms of quantifiable outputs, the completed the main funders. BPT projects have created over 250 homes; more than One of the main factors for successfully delivering 12 large commercial properties, including some 75 projects is partnership working, both within the BPT workplaces; and 25 community facilities. movement and with organisations outside it. BPTs In addition to these achievements, the Scottish highlighted that the support of local authorities was BPT movement also contributes to a range of much fundamental to enabling them to undertake their role wider benefits. successfully. The knowledge and expertise tied up in

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 21 The Scottish Borders Council supported the restoration of Gunsgreen House.

BPTs means that they are very well placed to support ensure the financial sustainability of BPTs. First, BPTs local authorities in restoring their buildings at risk, should explore the role of social enterprises, in terms of whether this is through the provision of advice and both project delivery mechanisms and as occupiers of guidance or through project delivery. This is particu- restored buildings. Second, BPTs should improve their larly pertinent for local authorities that lack sufficient strategic business planning to include an alignment conservation or project management skills in-house. of priorities with those of wider organisations. Third, ECOTEC encourages local authorities to support BPTs should identify and undertake income generating BPTs by sharing risk, particularly in terms of acting activities to promote their longevity. Fourth, BPTs as loan guarantors; accessing and providing funding; should explore the opportunities for involvement, providing political and strategic support for BPT delivery and management of area-based schemes, projects; and helping to obtain buildings. Relationships including the appropriation of a management fee. between BPTs and local authorities are extremely Fifth, as previously stated, local authorities should be varied across Scotland. Some are very strong, whereas encouraged to act as loan guarantors for BPT projects. others are virtually non-existent. The study concluded that Scottish BPTs should BPTs’ involvement of the local community has continue to be supported as a mechanism for restoring been very successful, but in light of the increasingly historic buildings. There is a clear demand for organisa- complex nature of projects there needs to be careful tions with the necessary skills and expertise to restore consideration of how their involvement should be Scottish buildings at risk, and BPTs can manage and sustained in the future. ECOTEC suggests that BPTs deliver such projects effectively. The knowledge held need to place a greater emphasis on exploring oppor- within the BPT movement, and the passion and com- Reference Study of Building tunities for establishing a strategic dialogue with third mitment of the staff and volunteers, are invaluable. The Preservation Trusts in sector organisations such as the Development Trusts diversity of the Scottish BPT movement is a consider- Scotland, 2010, ECOTEC Association. able strength. The movement needs to be united and Research and Consulting. www.historic-scotland. In light of tightening public sector budgets, the long to have good communication links, both within and gov.uk/bptscotlandstudy term sustainability of BPTs, particularly those that beyond the movement. deliver multiple projects, is at risk. For a number of The environment in which BPTs operate has under- trusts, securing core funding has been an important gone significant changes. The BPT movement has way to support their activities. In addition, virtually all demonstrated flexibility and adaptability as it has trusts that deliver multiple projects have expanded their responded to an array of challenges and opportunities. Sarah Jenkins, a consultant role to include activities such as consultancy work and However, the long-term sustainability of Scottish BPTs at ECOTEC Research and Consulting, was the project building management, in a bid to sustain and fund their is very much at risk and the movement is, arguably, manager for the study of restoration activities. fighting to survive. Effective partnerships are critical to building preservation trusts in Scotland. ECOTEC makes a number of recommendations to continuing success.

22 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 STEPHEN COPP The Little Houses Improvement Scheme A building preservation trust can benefit from the viability that working with an established housing association can provide to an otherwise challenging project.

Dymock’s Building: the restored street elevation

The National Trust for Scotland’s revolving fund build- ing preservation trust, the Little Houses Improvement Scheme (LHIS) is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2010. Established with a mandate to help preserve the nation’s vernacular past, the LHIS seeks out threatened properties of significance, repairs them to a high standard and sells them on completion to replenish its revolving fund for future projects. A key element of LHIS strategy is to promote projects which engage with local communities to find Plan of the ground floor new uses for abandoned properties that will bring lasting social benefit. Sympathetic restoration of a significant building can become a source of local pride and act as a catalyst for further regeneration in an otherwise neglected community. Recent LHIS projects have worked in close partnership with housing associa- tions to help achieve these aims. A preservation trust and a housing association may have completely separate agendas, but combining building conservation with the provision of amenity housing (apartments or houses with special modifica- tions for people with particular needs, but not sup- Dymock’s Building in 1936 ported by a warden) can be extremely beneficial to both parties. For the LHIS this form of partnership achieves its social aims and provides much needed capital for what are always difficult projects. For the housing association, the primary benefit is in obtaining a unique property which provides its residents with a quality living experience that differs from standard housing association offerings. A key to any project’s success is collaboration at an early stage in its development, and working with a housing association which is comfortable with the inherent complexities of repairing and adapting The restored buffet in the an historic building. Issues relating to traditional common room

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 23 finishes and elements of maintenance will have to having lined up an established housing association be addressed. Certain aspects of grant funding often that is willing to pay market valuation for a restored require negotiated solutions. property. Having a clearly viable end use in place As with most preservation trusts, the LHIS works which is of greater social benefit provides a project with properties which entail a significant conserva- with a strong foundation, making further grant fund- tion deficit. This makes them of little interest to a ing all the more likely. commercial developer. In many cases they have been The LHIS concentrates on drawing on sources of left derelict for some time. Repair costs would never funding dedicated to building conservation, while be recouped in the sale of the building on completion, the housing association can make use of established but the financial viability to a project is helped by links to seek out further funding for the provision of amenity housing. Two recent LHIS projects feature this partnership approach: the Dymock’s Building in Bo’ness, completed in 2005, and Threadneedle Street in Peterhead, currently on site and due for completion in late 2010. The Dymock’s Building is a 17th century mer- chant’s house in Bo’ness, which served as the harbour for the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, some 25 kilometres west of Edinburgh. The property consisted of a large late-medieval crow-stepped house with an enclosed yard featuring lean-to stabling and an arched gateway towards the harbour. Over 300 years of occupation had introduced numerous alterations to the building, some of them quite insensitive, and the property had suffered from 20 years of neglect. Falkirk Council identified the Dymock’s Building as a priority project in its efforts to revitalise the historic town centre and brought the property to the trust’s attention. The trust acquired the building in 1997. A number of options were examined, and conversion to housing was deemed the best fit for any new use. Citing a recognised need for amenity housing for the elderly in the area, the LHIS joined in partnership with the Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association (CREHA) to help meet this demand. With a viable end use in place, the LHIS was able to

Dymock’s Building: a view attract funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and from the rear close Historic Scotland for fabric repair, while CREHA was able to obtain funding through the Scottish Government’s Empty Homes Initiative to help offset the costs of conversion. These, and other grants, were essential in order to provide the £1.7 million which would be required to bring the project to completion. The Pollock Hammond Partnership was appointed as architect. The Dymock’s Building was sensitively modified to create eight new single bedroom flats with a shared lift. A room with panelling dating to the 18th century did not lend itself to conversion, and was carefully repaired to serve as a common room with its own kitchen. The works were not without their difficulties, including a protracted dispute with the main contractor, but in its restored state the Dymock’s Building contributes greatly to the character of Bo’ness’s historic town centre and provides unique housing for the elderly. Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association is delighted with the property. ‘The common room gives the tenants the extra space to allow get togethers

A detail of the with friends and family,’ says Castle Rock Edinvar’s entrance gate area housing manager Sheila Mitchell. ‘It has been

24 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 used for Christmas parties, funeral wakes and to celebrate the annual Bo’ness Children’s Fair. The restoration of Dymock’s has made a huge difference to a neglected corner of Bo’ness and to the lives of its residents.’

Dymock’s Building, Bo’ness: project budget £ Main contract 1,246,437 Total project cost 1,603,356

Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association 160,000 (purchase) Threadneedle Street: plan Scottish Government Empty Homes of the ground floor 200,000 Allowance (through CREHA)

Heritage Lottery Fund 625,512 Historic Scotland repair grant 359,976 Falkirk Council grant 40,000 Landfill tax credit 50,000 Six other grants 167,868

Total project income 1,603,356 A view of the site prior to works Threadneedle Street in Peterhead will see a pair of Georgian terraces combined in order to create a facility for people with physical and learning dis- abilities. In this instance the social housing provider, Tenants First Housing Cooperative (TFHC), had been working closely with Aberdeenshire Council to identify key buildings in the Peterhead Conservation Area, whose restoration would have an immediate impact in an otherwise neglected community. The LHIS was interested in pursuing potential projects in the northeast of Scotland with a similar remit. This partnership ideally suited both parties. The Threadneedle Street buildings had languished for some time on the buildings at risk register. Once A view of the site prior again a sizable amount of grant funding was neces- to works sary to overcome the conservation deficit. The LHIS was able to secure funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland, and the SITA Trust for fabric repairs, while TFHC was able to secure hous- ing association grant from the Scottish Government to offset conversion costs. LDN Architects was in the fortunate position of being able to involve future tenants in the design Proposed west elevation process, giving added richness to the proposals which will see the ground floors of the properties con- solidated to create a facility for three residents who require 24-hour care. The first floor will be divided into three flats, each with its own street entrance. These will provide homes for those who can live more or less independently, but would benefit from the care available on the ground floor. In the words of TFHC chief executive Sandy Proposed south elevation

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 25 Murray: ‘The LHIS acquired the property with a maintained and accessible to the public. This is typi- back-to-back agreement requiring TFHC to pur- cally enforced through the imposition of control peri- chase the building on completion. This works to the ods, which ensure compliance with grant conditions advantage of both parties and TFHC does not sell well beyond completion dates. The simple solution is its properties, ensuring that they will act as the long- to modify the grant contract so that the purchasing term custodian of the Threadneedle Street buildings’. housing association assumes responsibility through The TFHC is also engaged with the Glen O’Dee the control period by means of a tripartite agreement Building Preservation Trust to rescue a tuberculosis to the satisfaction of all parties. sanatorium (as featured on BBC TV’s ‘Restoration’) Repairs to historic building fabric can be time and with the North East Scotland Preservation Trust consuming, involve specialist craftsmen, and experi- to repair a range of industrial buildings in Portsoy. ence weather related delays. There is always the possibility when intervening in an ancient structure Threadneedle Street, Peterhead: that additional problems will be uncovered which will project budget have an impact on programme and costs. These fac- tors must be made clear to all involved in the project. £ On completion, issues of maintenance will need Main contract 1,413,970 to be addressed. The housing association will be Total project cost 1,943,700 assuming responsibility through any control period which may be imposed through the grant contract. Tenants First Housing Cooperative (purchase) 150,000 If listed, there is also a statutory obligation to maintain the building properly. None of this should Scottish Government Housing Association 350,000 Grant (through TFHC) be particularly onerous on the part of the housing association as it merely represents the proper care Heritage Lottery Fund 738,500 of an asset. Difficulties may arise in adjusting estab- Historic Scotland/Aberdeenshire Council con- 210,000 lished maintenance regimes intended to cover a wide servation area partnership schemes (CAPS) portfolio of properties to meet the specific needs of a Landfill tax credit 100,000 historic building. 18 other grants 395,200 Aspects of traditional workmanship and materials which give old buildings so much of their charm Total project income 1,943,700 also introduce issues of long-term care. Traditional building materials are typically softer and more breathable than their modern counterparts, and While working in partnership with a housing they often feature sacrificial elements which must be association has proven successful, there are potential periodically replenished. This is particularly true of pitfalls which should be clarified at the outset. These lime-based pointing, renders and limewashes. Other relate to the realities of assembling an intricate pack- aspects of traditional design may also introduce their age of grant funding and the inherent complexities own maintenance issues, such as complex roof forms in dealing with historic and often listed buildings. which will require periodic inspection. All this should be familiar to a BPT, but a housing These issues can be best addressed through the use association may have difficulties dealing with all the of a conservation agreement appended to the title implications which typically manifest themselves in a deeds. This document identifies significant features somewhat prolonged programme from initial concept and establishes appropriate maintenance cycles. to completion. A housing association accustomed to Providing a building manual also helps to avoid the efficiencies of new build will have to adjust to the any confusion over the proper care of the building. slightly slower pace of conservation work. This document outlines all the materials which have Needless to say, it is highly unlikely that any works been used in repairs, and provides manufacturers’ will begin on site until the project is completely instructions for their care and maintenance. This may funded. Most often this involves a myriad of funding require a degree of flexibility on the part of a housing agencies, each with their own criteria and conditions. association’s maintenance division. Standard grant conditions often prohibit the sale of Finding a housing association willing to engage the recipient property on completion. This will have in a non-standard building may prove an initial to be addressed for the revolving fund model to work. challenge, but once on board and fully informed, the Thankfully most funding agencies are amenable to partnership can be extremely advantageous to both the removal of non-sale clauses from grant contracts, parties. The BPT benefits through the viability which particularly when a reputable purchaser has been working with an established housing association lined up. This involves amending grant contracts and provides to an otherwise challenging project. The of course entails the services of legal consultants, housing association obtains a unique property which Stephen Copp is the which can be time consuming. enriches the lives of its inhabitants. Perhaps most National Trust for Grant agencies have to ensure that their funding important, a piece of local history can be saved for Scotland’s LHIS project manager. is spent wisely, and that any investment is properly the direct benefit of its local community.

26 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 MARCUS PATTON The best of both worlds Hearth Housing Association in Northern Ireland is unusual in managing to combine the complexities of social housing with the ideals of historic building restoration.

Building preservation trusts do a valuable job in restoring important but derelict buildings and bringing them back into economic use. But if they are not going to occupy the property themselves they have to be able to pass it on to a new owner. Unfortunately, because of the cost of restoration it is not uncommon for the selling price of the restored building to be beyond the reach of local people, and the property becomes gentrified. In some cases the BPT will not even be able to consider undertaking the project in the first place because the conservation deficit could not reasonably be met from the likely sale price. Several BPTs have solved this dilemma by working in partnership with housing associations. The BPT concentrates on the historic and architectural prob- lems and funding them, while the housing association The terrace of four is an end user who is not unduly concerned about industrial houses at Castlederg was badly market values, as long as there is a housing need that damaged by a 500 pound can be fulfilled by the scheme. However, there is one bomb at the police station organisation, which so far as we know is unique, which across the road in 1990. The houses were restored manages to combine the roles of BPT and housing by Hearth Housing association within one body, or more accurately a Association in 1992, with closely related partnership of two sister charities. one of the original tenants moving back (and still When Hearth Housing Association was set up in there today). 1972 it was intended to be a revolving-fund BPT oper- ating across Northern Ireland. Its joint sponsors, the in Northern Ireland. Hearth’s committee, under the National Trust and the Ulster Architectural Heritage visionary leadership of Charlie (later Sir Charles) Society, inspired to a large extent by the National Trust Brett, managed to set up a sister housing association. for Scotland’s Little Houses scheme (see Copp p23), In 1978 Hearth Housing Association became the saw it as a mechanism to demonstrate that many of the dominant partner, able to employ staff and access modest buildings of character in the province which housing finance. The original Hearth became Hearth were being demolished were capable of economic Revolving Fund. The organisations became financially re-use. It was not aimed at listed buildings, because separate, but managed by the same committee and there were none at that time. The Planning Order holding simultaneous meetings. bringing the concept into being in Northern Ireland Over the past 30 years the combined arms of Hearth was only passed in 1972, and it was to be a further two have carried out about 35 schemes, as well as acting years before the first listed buildings were designated. as architects for the restoration of about 20 buildings So the number of worthwhile buildings under threat for outside clients. When we first look at a potential was dauntingly large. project we usually start by seeing if it would make a The Troubles were also getting seriously under way, good housing association scheme. That opens up hous- having started in 1969. With most towns and villages ing funding, and means we can retain and manage the in Northern Ireland suffering from car bombs and property. While there is considerable red tape involved, attacks on shops and businesses it was not an easy time and schemes generally have to be carried out for to be setting up any project, let alone one restoring yardstick costs, we can combine the housing finance derelict buildings. A start was made in the village of with other sources such as the Heritage Lottery if a Seaforde in Co Down. But even if gentrification had case can be made that there is an element (such as been a completely acceptable option, it was hard to very high ceilings or very wide staircases) not covered see who was going to make the investment there, while by housing association grant. many other important buildings were in areas far worse Of course, some schemes are just so idiosyncratic, affected by the conflict. or so expensive, that they can not be taken on by the Fortunately, two years after the legislation on his- housing association. In other cases there is no local toric buildings for the province, the Housing Order of housing need, which rules out housing association 1976 set up the mechanism for housing associations involvement altogether. In those circumstances we find

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 27 The 1837 gateway by Edward Blore at Castle Upton incorporated a gate lodge with rooms on either side of the central arch. These were occupied by a private tenant on a controlled rent. The tenant did not want to leave and the owner could not afford to do repairs. Hearth Housing Association took a long lease on the property and extended the lodge in both directions to form two separate houses, and carried out extensive works to the tower using Heritage Lottery funding. The original tenant still occupies one lodge. This is an after photograph: the lodges are single-storey and single- aspect, constructed of basalt like the rest of the building, and face into the grounds of Castle Upton.

it useful to bring the BPT into operation. It can be been applied elsewhere? It has been considered, and more flexible, and it can move on short notice. We have indeed the National Trust in South Wales endeavoured even on occasion started holding repairs before getting to set up just such an organisation some years ago. A ownership of a building. We did one scheme with the conservation architect was appointed and he worked BPT, sold it on completion to the housing association, with an established housing association in the area. which in turn sold it to the sitting tenant in due course. Unfortunately, his enthusiasm for historic buildings In another scheme, the BPT and housing association was not matched at that time by the board of the were joint employers for a project involving flats (for association, who looked at a 17th century house only in the housing association) and shops (for the BPT). terms of the number of units it might provide. There are disadvantages to the arrangement. When the architect visited Belfast to see how Hearth Housing associations do not select their tenants the worked, I took him to meet the principal of the housing way a private landlord might, and a small percentage association’s branch at Stormont. He was amazed of our tenants are certainly less than ideal. BPTs do when he was told that there was no difficulty in putting not usually have to deal with ex-prisoners or alcoholics. a bit of housing money towards historic buildings Inevitably most of our tenants arrive looking simply because they both came out of the same budget. At for a roof over their head rather than a nice historic that time the Department of the Environment funded building to enjoy – although the vast majority develop both listed buildings and housing associations. One considerable pride in their homes and do respect the of the fortunate things about Northern Ireland is that restrictions we place on them. it is a small place where people can still make (some) More often there are advantages. We certainly could decisions using common sense, without necessar- not have restored some buildings in the centre of ily following a book. We were told that in Wales Tai Belfast during the Troubles without a mechanism like Cymru and Cadw had entirely separate budgets and the housing association. Hearth has rescued at least objectives, and cross-fertilisation between housing half of the Georgian (actually early Victorian) houses and historic buildings would be much more difficult. surviving in the city and maintains them as social Joined-up government may still be hard to find in housing. Being our own client enables us to take some many parts of the country, and sadly even here the controlled risks that are difficult for an architect work- separation has become much greater. ing for a private client or indeed a BPT developing for Hearth tries to demonstrate in all its projects that a housing association. historic buildings and social housing are by no means Although Hearth has two separate organisations, incompatible. There is no reason why social housing and they are funded and managed as quite distinct should all be in estates, or in comparatively new entities, they operate in parallel ways. Our housing houses. The vast majority of our tenants say they prefer association only works with historic buildings or living in old houses. We believe that the combination conservation areas, although its primary function is to of housing and heritage can be a valuable way of provide social housing, and our BPT lets out a number regenerating areas as well as specific buildings, and of houses to tenants at affordable rents. However, it is that tenants can benefit from the variety and quality of Marcus Patton, an usually clear which organisation will take the lead in a the houses provided. Combining the complexities of architect, has been director project, as their roles are complementary rather than social housing with the high ideals of historic building of Hearth’s revolving fund and housing association for duplicated. restoration certainly does not make for an easy life. But more than 30 years. If Hearth works so well, why has the model not it has been, and continues to be, a very rewarding one.

28 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 NICK FALK Heritage assets for community use The success of any transfer of heritage assets to community use depends on understanding the development process and the nature of community action.

A strategy by URBED sees the old textile mills in the Stroud Valleys as a string of pearls.

Up and down the country there is increasing interest in make the process easier to understand and more likely the possibilities for transferring local authority buildings to end in a successful outcome. The guidance draws on to community groups. This follows up the recommenda- both our direct experience, and also a variety of studies, tions in the Quirk Review1, which set out the potential including research by Heritage Works and the North benefits from community ownership. It also stems from of England Civic Trust and the Prince’s Regeneration the requirement on local authorities to produce asset Trust. We have also benefited from the immense experi- management plans with the aim of seeking savings from ence of the Architectural Heritage Fund and Heritage rationalising accommodation. Lottery Fund. While no report can hope to address Many of the buildings concerned form part of our all these issues, it will provide a route map through a cultural heritage and have wider community value, such process that can seem like a maze. as local association or memories. The properties include The benefits from asset transfer can be considerable. former public buildings, such as Victorian libraries, They come from tapping the energy of community public baths and lidos, and even the occasional prison minded individuals, plus the expertise of private profes- or country house. Most local authorities will have a few sionals, and finding uses that had not previously been such assets, and some like Norwich City Council have considered. As well as the many examples of building several hundred historic buildings in their ownership. preservation trusts taking on buildings at risk, there are The potential uses range from community and art cen- likely to be more partnerships between different forms tres to more ambitious schemes for business centres and of third-sector organisation where, for example, a trust housing developments aimed at regenerating run-down sells off part of a building to a housing association, areas. For most local authorities and community groups while retaining another part that is rented or sold to a the process will involve journeys into the unknown. community or arts organisation, or even rented back to URBED has been commissioned by English Heritage, the local authority. the Heritage Lottery Fund, the National Trust, the The process can be broken down into the following Architectural Heritage Fund, and the Asset Transfer steps: Unit at the Development Trusts Association to produce 1. Identifying under-used heritage assets guidance that will include case studies and checklists to 2. Assessing development options for use

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 29 to allow funds to be raised. Above all it is important to avoid the process becoming politicised, and find ways of satisfying all the different interests. Having helped to save buildings as diverse as Brunel’s

The former Shoreditch engine house for the Thames Tunnel (now the Brunel Town Hall is now a Museum) or Kirkaldy’s Testing and Experimenting meeting place and Works, I know that well-conceived and executed con- conference centre, and a key element in the regeneration servation projects can change the image of a run-down of part of the city fringe area, and act as a catalyst for private investment. Based within the London Borough on this experience I have four suggestions for how the of Hackney. It will be the venue for a free conference process could be improved: on 12 July on ‘Transfer of Early intervention The time to act is before the rot heritage assets: guidance has set in. This means ensuring that buildings are for local authorities and community groups’ (phone properly maintained while a new use is being sought, 0114 281 6130 for details). and may include interim uses to keep the building safe and dry. As a way of combating the effects of the 3. Formulating policies for disposal recession, conservation officers need to discuss with 4. Choosing the right partner building preservation trusts where they could be of 5. Addressing the risks most help. Community groups often need time to 6. Agreeing terms prove themselves, and small grants from the Heritage 7. Raising finance Lottery Fund may be useful in turning local energy 8. Maintaining long-term viability. into what the Americans call ‘sweat equity’. While there is a growing interest in disposing of property Pilot projects As it can be hard to imagine what the assets to third-sector organisations, there is a real need building will eventually become, and capacity at the for communities to have access to the support needed start will usually be limited, where possible a project to help them make a success of the project. Apart from should proceed incrementally, undertaking refurbish- the controversial issue of what a public building is really ment as the budget allows, starting where it is easiest worth, there are concerns about how much it will cost to to generate some activity and revenue. The answer undertake refurbishments and meet legal and planning to how to eat an elephant is a bite at a time! A good requirements, as well as the often neglected issue of example was the refurbishment of the old Liberty Silk how the long-term maintenance and running costs are Printing Works on the River Wandle as Merton Abbey to be covered. Mills. There a local trust took over the Wheelhouse, Making a success of a project invariably depends which now generates energy, as part of a complex on having people with passion, and a wider team of attractions including a market, pub, shops and who understand all the intricacies, and who can work children’s theatre. together effectively over a number of years. If the system Practical feasibility studies While the feasibility studies for transfer involves too many checks, community should involve appropriate professional teams with energy will be dissipated. relevant experience, they should be driven by an We are aware through our work on this and other understanding of what is likely to be economically projects that there is a large body of advice on practicali- viable in the particular situation, and not by wishful ties, but what is often missing is a recognition of how thinking. For example a feasibility study undertaken in long the process can take. As well as the firms that local conjunction with the Princes Regeneration Trust led to authorities tend to use, there are many architects or a private developer taking on the conversion of Mistley surveyors who specialise in advising voluntary and com- Maltings into a mix of uses, starting with apartments munity groups. However, it is easy to overestimate the overlooking the river. prospects of raising grants and loans, and underestimate Seeing is believing While books, guides and the growing the long-term problems in managing a building, as number of web-based tools can help, there is nothing opposed to just being an occupant. Over-dependant on like a group going to see a project that has tackled short-term grants, it is easy for a project to be an award similar challenges. Any major project should build in References winner one year, and in need of rescue a few years later. a budget for training, whether it be participation in 1 Making Assets Work: Hence the process of transfer needs to be seen as a conferences or networks, or simply hiring a bus to take The Quirk Review, 2007, www.communities.gov.uk/ longer-term partnership for achieving some wider ends, all involved on a study tour. documents/communities/ such as the regeneration of a particular area. The transfer of ownership could breathe new life pdf/321083.pdf While it is easy to ask for the production of a business into a number of neglected assets, and strengthen plan or a whole-life costing tool, in reality what matters the capacity of communities to take control of their most is getting people to work together in a collabora- futures. It could also lead to fruitless disputes over tive way. For community organisations whose expertise what went wrong and who to blame. It is crucial that Nicholas Falk is lies in understanding user needs, not undertaking all involved invest in understanding the realities of the founder director of URBED property development, it is vital to make the process development process, and the benefits and limits of (Urban and Economic Development) in London. easy to understand, with a timetable that is long enough community action.

30 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 ALAN LODGE A Scottish partnership A partnership between Fife Historic Buildings Trust and Fife Council has led to the repair and restoration of derelict listed buildings, and the improvement of high streets.

Fife Historic Buildings Trust and Fife Council have been working in partnership for 12 years. In this time four townscape heritage initiatives (THIs) and three conservation area regeneration schemes (CARSs) have been or are currently being delivered, and an applica- tion for a fifth THI has been submitted. More than £13 million has been invested in the historic built environment. Over the next four years a further £10 million is committed, with another £3 million if the fifth THI is approved by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Over 20 significant derelict listed buildings have been restored and converted for new uses, and a further 25 have received grant aid towards repairs. Major public realm schemes have been imple- mented in each of the four THIs with £3 million already invested in these high street improvements. Innovative training schemes have been used to deliver some of these projects. In the public realm work, council building operatives have learned tradi- tional masonry skills in collaboration with the Scottish Lime Centre. These new skills are now being put to use across the rest of Fife’s historic environment. The opening ceremony at In the past year Fife Council, as part of the THI in Kinghorn Town Hall Dysart, has taken on new stonemason apprentices and upskilled existing staff to deliver a £500,000 restoration the development of a film festival in Dysart harbour, of a tollbooth and town hall. A dedicated squad that thought to be the first to offer sail-in movies. has been established on the basis of this experience will Are such partnerships between BPTs and local move on to restore other council-owned historic build- authorities to be recommended elsewhere in the UK? ings. It is expected that these apprenticeships will be Of course not. Why would I encourage the develop- completed, and possibly new apprenticeships offered, ment of other successful partnerships and rival bids for in the development of a rolling programme. limited funding? We have a model that seems to work In addition to managing the THIs with Fife Council, in Fife, for the council, for the trust and, we hope, for the trust itself has delivered, or is currently deliver- the communities where work has been undertaken. ing, three major building restoration projects. These There will no doubt be better and more successful involve 15 buildings and with a combined value of models elsewhere, but we have stumbled across a £5.4 million. formula that works for us. In addition to the physical improvements carried It helped that the trust was created at the instigation out in these THIs and CARSs, the partnership has of Fife Council, following a recognition that there was instigated three public art schemes, all involving local a need for a local building preservation trust. The trust schools. It has engaged with and supported local com- was nurtured and supported by the council, but by no munity groups in a number of projects, the latest being means controlled by it. From the outset it was seen as

Harbour House, Kirkaldy, before (left) and after (right)

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 31 West Wemyss before (left) and after (right)

an equal partnership, each partner recognising that it appraisals from the Architectural Heritage Fund. In needed the other to be successful. identifying potential THIs and priority projects, trusts For the trust, the foundations for its long-term are possibly much better at providing this expertise. security came with the launch of the townscape For the trust, it can help deliver a stream of potential heritage initiative by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The projects and thus long-term security. approval of the West Wemyss THI not only enabled If a trust manages a THI on behalf of the local the trust to undertake its first project, but gave it a authority, this can bring ‘free’ expertise. Trustees are guaranteed income stream for three years. The risks generally experienced and qualified in a number of to the trust were also lessened by the secondment of relevant areas of expertise, and have very useful local its manager from the council, an arrangement which contacts. All this can be used to support the THI continued for almost six years. This first project was project manager. On two occasions in particular, a critical in forging links with a number of key local and key to the success of the THI was individual trustees national funding bodies, as well as developing a close opening discussions and reaching agreement with working relationship with many different services and reluctant owners of buildings. key individuals within Fife Council. The involvement of a local trust can bring continuity More than anything else, it has been this building to the delivery of THIs. Where local authorities apply of trust and cooperation with other parties that has and manage THIs themselves or through consultants, contributed to the long-term success of the trust and there is a risk that applications will be overly ambitious, its partnership with the council. Well before the first aimed at securing an approval, but leaving the project THI was completed, the council and the trust realised manager with a very difficult task in attempting to that what could work in West Wemyss could work deliver. Where the same people, both within the local elsewhere. So began the production line of THIs and, authority and trust, are jointly responsible for both the later, CARSs. This is now an integral part of a 10-year application and the delivery, they are naturally going Fife Heritage Strategy, jointly developed by the trust to be more realistic about what is really achievable. and the council. Continuity of personnel in the trust and the local Each THI has been different. While the trust itself authority is equally important. was the lead applicant for West Wemyss and undertook In Fife there is a core of staff which has experience of all the restoration and public realm work itself, the several THIs. I believe they thoroughly enjoy working council has been lead applicant since then, and the in partnership with the trust (and not just for the trust has only undertaken certain priority projects. quality of the coffee and chocolate biscuits we offer). Even where other parties are implementing projects, They are essential for the delivery of projects and the the trust still works closely with them (especially with smooth running of the THIs. It would be difficult to other trusts and housing associations), to help them cultivate such a partnership for a one-off. assemble viable funding packages. Sometimes it is easier for trusts to work closely with One of the most difficult tasks is securing not only local community groups and businesses than it is for the Heritage Lottery Fund grant, but the match fund- the council. Where this is the case and relations with ing required. Fife Council has an excellent and very the council are strained, the trust can often find it experienced team which can help identify and secure easier to achieve cooperation and build support. Trusts match funding (particularly European). Equally the should be experienced in consulting and working trust has built up a real expertise and a track record of with the community. This is vital if a THI is to be delivery in this area. Importantly it can also be a vehicle effective in increasing the awareness, understanding for sourcing funding which is not available to local and involvement of local people. authorities. The trust can and does frequently apply for Many trusts already have excellent and close work- grants to help smaller community projects within the ing relationships with their local authority and several THIs and CARSs, as well as for its own projects. others have also managed THIs. Those who have not One further benefit of the partnership is that a BPT may wish to retain complete independence and follow may often represent the best (or only) choice of devel- their own priorities. But if any trust is considering a oper for a priority building. The trust will be able to THI partnership with the local authority, go for it (but Alan Lodge is with the Fife Historic Buildings Trust. investigate viability and can access funding for options please not until we secure our next THI).

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CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 33 Nick BROWN New life for Portaferry Portaferry Regeneration and the Prince’s Regeneration Trust have been developing proposals for the heritage-led economic regeneration of Portaferry, County Down.

Portaferry Regeneration and the Prince’s Regeneration Trust have been working (in consultation with Ards Borough Council, statutory agencies and local stake- holders) to develop proposals for the heritage-led regeneration of Portaferry over the past nine months. Ballyphilip The objective has been to build on the significant Parish Church

achievements of the established community-led regen- Fire Cluster 1 Station High Street St Cooey's eration company with heritage-focused proposals to Library Oratory

regenerate the town, helping it fulfil its potential as Exploris Aquarium a visitor destination, to build on its importance as a Market House

maritime centre, and to make it an attractive place to Portaferry live, work and visit. This is to be achieved through the Castle Cluster 2 The Square Portaferry Presbyterian proposed Portaferry Townscape Heritage Initiative, Lifeboat Church Station with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, work-

ing in tandem with what will be a newly established Cluster 3 Ferry to Ferry Street Portaferry Building Preservation Trust. Strangford Portaferry is a small town with a population of around 2,500, located close to the southern tip of N the Ards Peninsula. It is about a one hour drive Marina

from Belfast and situated on the eastern shores of Key Strangford Lough, an inlet of the Irish Sea. The small, Conservation Area Boundary Cluster Areas former harbour town retains a significant number of Strangford THI Properties Lough late 18th and early 19th century buildings, built during THI Gap Sites the town’s period of greatest growth and prosperity. THI Public Realm Area Portaferry Townscape 0m 100 200 300 Heritage Initiative Map Despite the unprecedented and, many would strongly m m m argue, unwarranted de-listing of over 40 per cent of its listed buildings by the then Environment and Heritage Service in 2006, Portaferry Conservation Area still retains a significant concentration of listed buildings. The historic town centre, combined with its attractive setting on the shores of Strangford Lough, an area of outstanding natural beauty and site of special scientific The Strand Marina interest, contribute to its considerable townscape char- acter and charm. the Northern Ireland Aquarium and Seal Sanctuary, Unlike the village of Strangford, located nearby on which is located close to the centre of the town. the opposite side of the Lough, to which Portaferry is The aquarium regularly attracts more than 130,000 linked by a short and regular ferry service, Portaferry visitors a year, although in recent years visitor numbers has experienced a steady decline in its economic have been in decline. The ferry service provides a prosperity over the past 30 years. This is reflected in vital communication link and conveys approximately a sharp decline in economic investment in its historic 500,000 passengers a year, between Portaferry and buildings, which is manifest in the large number of Strangford – many are local people travelling to work derelict, vacant or underused properties within its or educational establishments on the landward side of historic centre and commercial core. A large number the Lough, in places such as Downpatrick. of small, family-run businesses, many located in the Portaferry is also an important maritime centre. centre of the town, have ceased trading and the last In addition to the Aquarium and Seal Sanctuary, remaining bank closed its Portaferry branch in 2008. Queen’s University Marine Laboratory is based there, Portaferry is ranked within the bottom 30 per cent providing research facilities for the school of biological of all wards in Northern Ireland on the Multiple sciences and the school of planning, architecture and Deprivation Measure, unlike its similarly-sized neigh- civil engineering; the Strangford Lough Management bour across the straits of Strangford Lough, which is Advisory Committee operates from offices in the ranked in the top 40 per cent. town; and Portaferry Marina, developed and operated Portaferry does, however, attract a significant number by the regeneration company, provides 39 permanent of visitors, a large proportion of whom visit Exploris, and 1,100 visitor berth nights a year. The world’s first

34 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 turbine to create commercial amounts of electricity The support of the local community is critical if from tidal energy operates at the mouth of the Lough, the full potential of heritage-led regeneration is to be producing electricity for about 1,000 homes. achieved. PRL in association with the PRT hosted There is a very strong, close-knit community in a stakeholder meeting to gauge the level of interest Portaferry, and most of the town’s community groups and support for the initiative. The meeting was well are represented on the Portaferry Community attended by approximately 40 people, including local Collective (PCC). The town won the category for business and property owners, councillors, representa- Building Community Life, at the Calor Village of the tives from community groups and local people. There Year Competition 2009, recognising its strong sense of was a clear consensus that the quality of the historic community and tradition, and the Portaferry Gala is a built environment and its vibrancy was being severely highly popular annual event. compromised by the large number of derelict and The Prince’s Regeneration Trust (PRT) was initially vacant buildings in the centre of the town. Attendees invited by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to meet were unanimously supportive of progressing the THI Will Brown, the project manager of the local commu- Round 1 application and examining other means by nity regeneration company, Portaferry Regeneration which the heritage-led regeneration of Portaferry Limited (PRL), and some of its directors, to discuss the could be achieved. possibility of assisting the group with the preparation Support of the local authority is also critical for of an HLF Stage 1 application for townscape heritage the long-term success of the proposed regeneration initiative (THI) funding. Local representatives from programme. Meetings with Ards Borough Council the HLF had recognised the potential of Portaferry secured council support for the THI, including a and had held meetings with the PRL some 18 months financial contribution towards the cost of the Stage earlier but little progress had been made during the 1 application and agreement in principle to provide intervening period. match funding for the project development costs and It was immediately apparent to the PRT from this Stage 2 submission. first meeting that PRL had a proven track record Until the review of public administration (RPA) is of delivering and managing successful regeneration implemented, devolving certain responsibilities to local projects and that it was keen to take on the challenge of councils, planning, conservation and listed building a heritage-focused regeneration project. But it did not issues remain the responsibility of central government have the capacity, confidence or heritage skills to take in Northern Ireland. Further rounds of meetings it forward. Previous PRL projects, which it continues were held with representatives of the Department to successfully manage, include Portaferry Marina, of Environment Planning Service and the Northern Barholm self-catering accommodation, the Stables Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to secure their tourist office and the Brewery Yard Business Park. written support, which in Northern Ireland is an HLF The potential regeneration project met the dual requirement. The local conservation officer and NIEA charitable objectives of the trust: to promote the con- conservation architect were subsequently invited to servation of heritage buildings, monuments, structures attend an event in Portaferry, hosted jointly by the or sites in the UK and to promote regeneration in Institute of Historic Building Conservation Northern areas of social and economic deprivation. The Prince’s Ireland branch and PRL to further strengthen their Regeneration Trust consequently agreed to assist PRL support. The project has also received the support of to develop proposals for the THI application. It would the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society and Hearth. also examine the scope for other complementary The overall vision for the scheme is to help re- initiatives to promote the repair and sustainable re-use establish Portaferry as a vibrant, attractive and pros- of historic buildings in Portaferry. These would include perous town. This will be achieved by promoting the establishing a building preservation trust and develop- sustainable economic regeneration and invigoration ing a potential ‘green’ demonstration project on a of the Portaferry Conservation Area, by financially redundant building in Portaferry in association with supporting and encouraging the repair and refurbish- the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment. ment of historic buildings that contribute to the

Left: The Sailing Club, Shore Road

Right: The Old Brewery, The Strand

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 35 4–6 and 7 High Street

special townscape character of the area, by bringing provide a clear indication that this source of funding, the large number of underused or vacant buildings like so many, is coming under sustained pressure. back into full sustainable use and by improving the Likewise, the DoE Planning Service conservation visual appearance of the historic town centre fabric area grant, available only to properties eligible for THI and public realm. funding, has been reduced from a high of £500,000 The initiative will act as a catalyst for future invest- a year to £100,000 a year for the coming year, to be ment in Portaferry from both the public and private shared among all the active THIs in Northern Ireland. sectors both within the conservation area and its Town Centre Living Initiative (TCLI) funding, similar wider environs. It will also encourage other property to LOTS (Living Over The Shop) and available through owners to invest in their historic properties, to imple- the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, was extended ment timely maintenance programmes, to undertake to cover Portaferry properties in 2009. However, appropriately sensitive repairs and to use traditional the funding was withdrawn shortly thereafter, then building materials and techniques. The initiative will subsequently reinstated. The future of this funding promote learning and participation in heritage, in line remains uncertain, with no firm commitment beyond with HLF objectives. 2010. An application has been submitted for funding The proposed Portaferry Townscape Heritage Area through the Regional Development Programme. This encompasses a relatively large area. It identifies 27 is yet to be determined. eligible properties, three eligible gap sites and an Likewise, funding for building preservation trusts eligible area of public realm. has been thrown into some doubt, with a potentially During the preparation of the THI application, significant reduction in the grant available through the project manager and directors of Portaferry the Northern Ireland Environment Agency NGO Regeneration recognised the value to be achieved if (non-government agency) grant scheme. Administered they were to establish a building preservation trust by the Architectural Heritage Fund, the grant provides in Portaferry, as a new delivery vehicle to undertake financial assistance to those wishing to set up building a suitable project alongside the townscape heritage preservation trusts in Northern Ireland. It provides initiative. The Prince’s Regeneration Trust organised funding for charitable organisations, such as BPTs, a half-day briefing session for the PRL directors and for the acquisition of listed historic buildings that are Portaferry Community Collective. on the Built Heritage at Risk Register (BHARNI). Representatives from Hearth BPT had previously Due to budgeting pressures within the DoE, the grant met PRL and considered the possibility of undertak- available is likely to be reduced, possibly by as much as ing a BPT project in Portaferry. However, through 50 per cent to £250,000 for the current financial year. the experiences of other similar projects such as the The Stage 1 application was submitted to the HLF Lisburn Building Preservation Trust and the Palatine in November 2009. The total THI development cost Trust in Killough, it was recognised that the additional is estimated to be £3 million. There is, however, funding which THI could bring to a BPT project considerable competition for THI funding. The HLF would greatly enhance the viability of such projects. received applications for the latest THI call totalling There is a large number of potentially suitable BPT £30 million, against an annual THI grant budget of properties within the proposed Portaferry THI area. only £10 million. These include four listed buildings which are included If successful, conservation consultants will be on the Built Heritage at Risk Register and thereby appointed to work alongside the PRL project manager potentially eligible for NIEA grant towards their to develop the project over the course of the following acquisition by the BPT. 12 months, with submission of the Stage 2 application Identifying sources of THI match funding is increas- in spring 2011. During this period, with the assistance ingly challenging, with the size and number of funding of the PRT, PRL will set up the Portaferry Building pots now much diminished and their long-term Preservation Trust, enter into negotiations with prop- Nick Brown is projects adviser to the Prince’s availability in doubt. The recently implemented cap erty owners and identify its first BPT project. The THI Regeneration Trust and of £250,000 on NIEA historic building grants should is programmed to begin in summer 2011 and to be chairman of the IHBC Northern Ireland branch. not directly affect potential THI projects, but it does completed by summer 2016.

36 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Debbie Dance Partnership at Oxford Castle Oxford Preservation Trust’s largest project provides access to historic buildings, promotes learning and ensures that the new spaces are part of the urban fabric.

Inside the prison’s 19th century A Wing, before and after conversion to a Malmaison hotel

The £6 million Oxford Castle scheme is part of the western edge of the Saxon city. It took in St George’s wider commercial £40 million regeneration project, Tower, the earliest secular structure in the country completed in a partnership between the public sector as it stands today. Beside it sits the Norman Castle (Oxfordshire County Council, OCC), the private Mound and underground vaulted well chamber and, sector (the Trevor Osborne Group), and the charity close by, the crypt of the later St George’s Church, sector (Oxford Preservation Trust, OPT), with sup- now hidden under a wing of the prison – the place port from SEEDA (South East England Regional where Geoffrey of Monmouth taught in the emerging Development Agency), English Heritage and the university and wrote the Legends of King Arthur. Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The castle keep disappeared after it was last in use This five-acre site in the centre of the city, once in the Civil War, and the 19th century prison was built, hidden within walls, has been opened up to reveal much of which survives. These buildings tell of John a Malmaison hotel housed in a 19th century prison Howard and prison reform, with early prison cells, building, restaurants, cafes, an art gallery and 40 the Debtors Tower, and Pentonville wing. Nearby sit apartments. Alongside sits the Key Learning Centre the early law courts, with their underground tunnel and the Oxford Castle Unlocked visitor attraction, leading from the dock into the prison yard, as used which allows people to climb the Saxon St George’s by Dennis Neilsen, the Black Panther. Tower and the Norman Castle Mound, providing a The county council needed to find a new and sus- schools and lifelong learning programme aimed at tainable use for the site and its buildings. While it was local people. Throughout the year the public squares committed to telling the history and providing public around the site are used for music, theatre and festi- access, it would need to achieve this without cost to vals. Oxford Castle has received a number of national the ratepayers. Advertising attracted 80 expressions of and international awards, including RICS Building of interest, and the Trevor Osborne Group was selected. the Year and a MIPIM property award. OPT worked on and paid towards a conservation How did a building preservation trust and charity plan for the castle in partnership with the county get involved in such a large venture? council and others. This, one of the earliest conserva- Oxford Castle first appears in OPT’s annual report tion plans, proved invaluable as the bible for all those of 1942. ‘Great expectations have been aroused parties who were to become involved in the delivery recently by the prospect of Oxford Castle and Prison of this difficult and complicated scheme. It brought being vacated and the possibilities for the site as a together all the information on the development and space for a public park, perhaps a county and city history in one place. museum.’ In 1996 when the prison finally became The private sector involvement brought the ingenu- vacant, OPT was happy to support the county coun- ity and flair needed to put together a mixed-use cil’s decision to buy the site from the Home Office at development which re-uses the listed buildings and the original selling price. scheduled ancient monuments in an interesting and Oxford Castle had been designed to keep people sustainable way, adding value, encouraging new archi- out and Oxford Prison to keep people in. This was the tecture and regenerating the site. The developer was first time in 1,000 years of history that a chance had able to attract funds from banks and from SEEDA, arisen to open it up and to let it tell the little-known who also wanted wider benefits to be delivered. story of a Norman castle built within a Saxon town, A champion was needed to ensure that the wider and a prison. vision was achieved, restoring all the heritage build- The Norman Castle was built in 1071 on the ings on the site, making sure that there was public

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 37 Left: Skating in the Castle Gardens, the former exercise yard (Photo: Charlotte Wood)

Right: St George’s Tower: part of Oxford’s Saxon defences, it is now open to the public (Photo: Rob Judges)

access, and ensuring that the sense of pride and contrast to a stay at Malmaison, where three cells belonging for the people of the city was delivered. make a bedroom with ensuite facilities. Outside, the OPT rose to the challenge and the Castleyard Castleyard was designed as a high-quality perform- scheme began to form. The HLF showed interest ance space, much needed in Oxford (with its private in the scheme which would open up the site for the college quads), where schools perform, theatre and first time in its history, tell Oxford’s story outside the music take place and which is now home to the city’s university in the place where it happened, open a new annual archaeology festival and the centre of OPT’s learning centre and give local people a sense of pride Oxford Open Doors, the third largest Heritage Open in their past. Day event in the UK in 2009. It was agreed that OPT should have one third Oxford Castle moved into a new phase of its of the site, including St George’s Tower, the Crypt history when it was opened in 2006 by the Queen. and the Mound. Aware of the pitfalls of entering The partnership between public, private and charity into an agreement with a commercial developer, continues today as the county council continues to the developer and the county council entered into own the freehold of the site, and the developers a development agreement which required repairs to have a long leasehold interest and manage the site the historic buildings to be carried out to an agreed (cleaning, repairing, marketing and running events). standard with the work completed before the hotel OPT has become a tenant, with the county taking and businesses could open. The value of this work, responsibility for the structure of the buildings and in turn, acted as the match funding for the HLF bid. the developers taking a service charge towards the Public, private and charitable sector views caused costs of management. inevitable ups and down as competing pressures In a partnership with OPT, the visitor attraction of time and cost occurred, and deadlines loomed. is run by commercial operators Continuum, and We learned to compromise and brought together the county provide a learning and access officer for a delivery team made up of archaeologists and the Key Learning Centre. Oxford Castle Unlocked’s architects, project managers and surveyors, English visitor numbers exceed the 70,000 predicted annu- Heritage, the city council and the main partners. The ally, and the thriving education and lifelong learning Trevor Osborne Group built OPT a viewing platform programme alongside is on track to achieve our target on the top of St George’s Tower while the scaffolding of seeing every schoolchild in Oxfordshire visit us. was up for the stone repairs, and before the funds Overall the site has attracted 334 jobs, 11 businesses were certain. They built a tunnel under the prison’s D and 5,400 learning opportunities. Wing to give disabled access to the crypt. A couple of Oxford Castle has become a catalyst for the false starts delayed this progress when underground regeneration for the surrounding area, now known as archaeology was discovered. This is accessible today Oxford’s West End and supported by SEEDA, Oxford when people can go underground and walk through City Council, OCC and the university and colleges. the surrounding archaeology. This year OCC sold its 1960s office site alongside OPT waited our turn for the repair work to our the Mound to a charitable trust, Science Oxford, and buildings. We were successful in raising the HLF grant plans for a new science and education centre linking and other funds needed. We obtained listed building into the main castle site are coming forward. consent to take down part of the 19th century prison The history continues: a story of past, present and wall and the Mound, bringing together the remaining future, a history of partnership and collaboration, castle buildings once more. bringing together the best of private, public and With the commercial development attracting a charity sector. Malmaison hotel and Carluccio’s restaurant, we knew Formed in 1927, Oxford Preservation Trust is one we must keep our standards high if heritage was of the earliest amenity societies. It owns and manages not to be the poor relation. The D Wing cells where over 800 acres of land and buildings, runs an educa- visitors read the story of early prisoners may look tion programme including Oxford Open Doors, and Debbie Dance is director of Oxford Preservation Trust. untouched to the eye, but they make an interesting carries out planning and project work.

38 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 New advert:Layout 1 28/2/10 18:58 Page 1

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Funding available for postgraduate study in Sustainable Heritage BEACON Who should apply? Designed for a new generation of heritage leaders, this course gives today’s specialists (architects, surveyors, engineers, project managers, PLANNING clerks of work, curators, conservators and designers) the interdisciplinary skills and mindset to be able to deliver the heritage programmes and projects of the future. An independent planning, conservation Students will have access to: and urban design consultancy specialising • International, interdisciplinary teachers who are leading professionals in their field in the historic environment • Learning from practice: the course is focussed on real-life heritage case studies • A fully funded 2-week study visit in Malta ▲ Historic Building Assessments Subjects covered include: ▲ • Concepts of sustainability and heritage value Heritage and Planning Statements • Heritage materials and assemblies ▲ Applications and Appeals • Sustainable strategies for conservation and re-use of heritage • Project planning, management and maintenance in the ▲ Conservation Area Appraisals heritage sector ▲ Conservation and Management Plans Funding: Studentships are available for full-time and part-time study in 2010/11, ▲ Development and Design Advice through the support of Ecclesiastical.

For further information about the course and funding, please T: 01223 810990 contact the Course Director on 020 7679 8242 E: [email protected] Email [email protected] Web www.ucl.ac.uk/sustainableheritage/msc.htm W: www.beaconplanning.co.uk RTPI Awards 2009 - Commendation - Small Planning Consultancy of the Year

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CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 39 LAURA NORRIS The Vivat Trust’s special buildings The Vivat Trust restores and maintains special buildings. Making them available as holiday lets enables people to enjoy them and helps to pay for their maintenance.

One of the Vivat Trust’s larger properties, the Cloister House in the precincts of Melrose Abbey was built as a manse in 1825 by John Smith of Darnick. The Vivat Trust is a national building preservation Estate owners are often more comfortable with trust with a difference. It was set up in 1981 by two leasehold. For instance, the trust has a 75-year lease young architects who, while touring the UK on a SPAB (soon to be extended to 250 years) with the Peak scholarship, were astounded by the large number of District National Parks Authority for North Lees Hall neglected historic buildings which were part of larger in Derbyshire. The trust took the peppercorn lease estates. The trust was founded in an attempt to secure from the national park as the level of restoration work a sustainable future for these properties. required was extensive and would be a distraction from The trust does not necessarily look for freehold own- the main work of the authority. The trust sourced the ership but instead enters into either long (25 year to funds to restore the building and now lets it out suc- 250 year) lease agreements with owners, or works with cessfully as a sleeps-six holiday let. It has worked so well them in partnership. It was the first charitable trust to that we are looking to extend the lease and take in the be allowed to do so by the Charity Commission. Its other heritage buildings from the North Lees Estate. properties are let out by a wholly owned subsidiary, The trust entered into a similar arrangement with Vivat Trust Holidays, for short holiday lets. There are Dorset District Council on the Chantry in Bridport. three main reasons for choosing this path. First, it Initially, the council retained the ground floor of the maximises the public access to the property, allowing building for a town museum with holiday accom- people to experience a living piece of history. Second, modation for three people being provided on the first such a use minimises the alterations required: the and second floors. However, the museum was not a holiday maker compromises rather than the building. great success as the building lies a short way from Finally, the rental income from the holiday lets gives the town centre and lacked footfall. As the upstairs an income for the continuing maintenance of the accommodation at the Chantry was letting quite well, building. The work undertaken now can be assured of it was agreed that the Vivat Trust would convert the a sustainable future. ground-floor spaces into further living accommoda- The trust began to look at the leasehold and tion. The Chantry now has accommodation for five partnership ideas as estates or local authorities may people and is a very popular property. not want to give up their ownership, but they may not In Edinburgh, the relationship is a little different. have the funding, knowledge or expertise to promote The Vivat Trust is leasing Old Observatory House, a restoration project. A partnership can transfer the the stunning building on Calton Hill, on a short-term maintenance burden to the trust, which can under- tenancy. Here, though, as the property is owned by take the fundraising, marketing, project organising the common good fund of the City of Edinburgh and internal fit out. The trust’s level of involvement Council, the trust has agreed that, once the restoration depends on the expertise of the project partner. and refurbishment work is complete, half the surplus

40 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 generated from the holiday lets at the property will be Council over Hadlow Tower in Kent. Without the transferred back to the council. This money will be council’s tenacity and bravery, this Grade I listed ring-fenced, and allocated to the restoration and reuse building would continue to decay. The trust hopes to of the other historic buildings on Calton Hill. go on site with this £4 million project during 2010. It is a novel approach, based on our arrangements The trustees and staff of the Vivat Trust see their role with Historic Scotland at Cloister House in the as one which supports and informs as well as under- Scottish Borders. Cloister House is owned by the taking restoration work directly. The trust intends to Scottish ministers through Historic Scotland. They stay reasonably small, so that it can remain flexible in continue to have responsibility for the external fabric its approach and practical in delivery. It has at its core of the building, with the Vivat Trust being responsible the need to restore and maintain these special build- for the internal condition, the booking management ings. The end use allows meaningful public access. All and property marketing. At the year end both parties of the Vivat Trust buildings are open over the Heritage consider their expenditure and any surplus is divided Open Day weekend. Equally important, the trust equally. The building is inspected throughout the year. makes contact with local schools and heritage groups It is used and warm and, most important, enjoyed by around the buildings it is working on to offer them the many people. opportunity to learn more. That aside, for its partners Another partnership route the trust is actively it is usually the contribution the Vivat Trust can make considering is the partial use of buildings which have to the economic profile of a town or area that helps high community profiles. The trust is working with make the decision of whether or not to work with it. A the Cullompton Walronds Trust in Devon, where the high-quality holiday let in a restored building attracts Vivat Trust will provide an end use for the first and holiday makers with funds to dispose of. That can only attic floors, while the Cullompton Walronds Trust will help the local pub, shop and tea room. continue with the community functions on the ground All good partnerships within heritage need patience. floor. The Vivat Trust may also offer historic buildings, What you think can be achieved in a year is likely which may be open to the public for a limited season, to take four. The Vivat Trust enjoys the challenge of during their down or closed season. partnership working. It does not always end up with Laura Norris was the One way of working with a local authority is through a trust holiday solution, but talking about a heritage first director of the Alba its compulsory purchase powers. That is how the Vivat project with a cash-strapped local authority helps both Conservation Trust and is now director of the EH_Archaeology_half_3Trust is working with Tonbridge 1/4/10 and Malling12:25 BoroughPage 1 sides to understand the building better. Vivat Trust.

Discover England’s Archaeological and Architectural Heritage www.pastscape.org.uk

Pastscape.org.uk is a quick Features: The National Monuments Record • Descriptions of sites, buildings and maritime (NMR), the public archive of English and easy way to search nearly wrecks, including details of investigations 400,000 records held in our and record sources Heritage, holds over 10 million photographs, plans, drawings, reports, national historic environment • Pictures (where available) • Links to modern mapping and satellite records and publications covering database. You’ll find information images, as well as old maps England’s archaeology, architecture, on archaeological, architectural • Bonus features for registered users: ability to save searches and access downloads of social and local history. and maritime sites. screensavers, wallpapers and e-postcards www.english-heritage.org.uk/NMR

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 41 liz bates A new approach to involving volunteers In partnership with the IHBC, Heritage Lincolnshire is recruiting volunteer heritage stewards to survey historic assets and to help raise awareness of heritage at risk.

Left: Volunteers on a practical training session in Hemingby, Lincolnshire

Right: Volunteers at a project re-launch at Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa

The building preservation trust movement depends on The information fed into the project database can volunteer effort: from the trustees who steer the activi- be shared directly with the HER and the Heritage at ties of the charity to the committee members developing Risk register held by English Heritage. The data can be the projects and the members of the community who analysed for priorities and trends which will inform a contribute to their delivery. Many volunteers have Heritage at Risk strategy for the county. expertise and knowledge which is invaluable to the The task is huge. There are over 9,000 heritage movement, but the most important requirements are assets to be surveyed and only three years in which enthusiasm, interest and a desire to make a positive to achieve the aim of 75 per cent coverage. This is an contribution to the local area. BPTs are skilled at obvious benefit of involving volunteers: without their developing partnerships between the public, private and input this target would not be achievable. The value voluntary sectors. They provide much of the impetus, of having an up-to-date audit of the historic environ- capacity and skills needed to achieve the successes ment of the county is clear, as resources can be more that fill the pages of the Architectural Heritage Fund’s effectively directed once the appropriate evidence has annual reports. been gathered. One of the challenges currently facing BPTs is the Heritage Lincolnshire is recruiting volunteers not need to build upon this capacity. How do we ensure only from its core audience (local civic, archaeological that the expertise, knowledge and experience embodied and history societies and its membership) but also within the current membership are shared so that among young people and others who may not have we can continue to develop our role as a partner in heard of the BPT movement before. The trust has heritage-led regeneration? developed partnerships with local volunteer centres, Heritage Lincolnshire is a charitable trust estab- the Vinvolve team, universities and colleges, and local lished in 1988 on the initiative of Lincolnshire County neighbourhood groups to help with this recruitment, Council. The role of a county BPT is just one of many and to design training and taster sessions that will activities of the trust. A full-time officer is employed enthuse and engage volunteers. In addition to the free to manage this work. While the day job continues to training, accreditation will be offered, social events will be the repair and regeneration of historic buildings at give opportunities to meet other volunteers and share risk (six projects have been completed to date), advice experiences, and a buddy system will help volunteers to and mentoring is offered to other trusts. Other projects build up their confidence by working with their peers. focus on engaging and involving local people in heritage The volunteers are called heritage stewards, a title management. which was designed to reflect their role within the The Lincolnshire Heritage at Risk Project, one of organisation, and which gives them a sense of their these initiatives, is funded by the Heritage Lottery contribution. After learning more about their local For further information visit Fund, English Heritage, Lincolnshire County Council heritage and understanding how it is valued by the www.lincshar.org or contact Heritage Lincolnshire, and other project partners. The project is a national community, they develop an appreciation of how it can The Old School, Cameron pilot, developed by Heritage Lincolnshire in partnership be vulnerable and they will help to raise awareness of Street, Heckington, Sleaford NG34 9RW, with the IHBC. how we can reduce the incidence of heritage at risk. tel 01529 461499, heritage- Volunteers are offered free training to undertake Some volunteers are already embracing this role and [email protected]. surveys on heritage assets across the county, assess- using their own initiative to further their interest. ing the survival and condition of historic buildings, So far this has included joining their local groups, Liz Bates is historic archaeological sites, historic parks and gardens, places contributing to parish plans and conservation area buildings manager for Heritage Lincolnshire. of worship and conservation areas. appraisals, and developing heritage trails.

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CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 43 STEPHEN EARL Lessons from Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth Borough Council and the Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust have worked together entrepreneurially over 20 years to save buildings at risk.

The Aspire Centre, Market Row, in March 2009

The principle that a high-quality historic environment is a right of common ownership has guided the partnership that Great Yarmouth Borough Council and the Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust have developed successfully over the past 20 years. As well as being conservation and heritage manager at Great Yarmouth Borough Council, I also act as project organiser for the Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust (GYPT). This dual role and close relationship between the borough council and building preservation trust has made it possible to protect and enhance the historic Market Row in January 2007 built environment, build strong partnerships and save buildings at risk for the benefit of the community in a comprehensive regeneration-through-conservation index of multiple deprivation ranked Great Yarmouth programme. fifth worst in intensity of 354 English local authority Great Yarmouth is an east coast port, seaside resort areas. A lack of economic activity had left the town and market town in Norfolk. One of the most impor- centre, sea front and quays with many historic build- tant historic towns on the east coast of England, it ings neglected, redundant and poorly maintained. has a medieval core with intact walls. In 1334 it was As a local authority conservation section, as part fifth in wealth among English towns. It has good 17th of a regeneration and environment department, our century buildings and possesses splendid Victorian and first aim is to use the listed buildings consent and Edwardian seaside entertainment architecture. For the conservation area consent process to protect his- 1,000 years its wealth had been built on fishing and toric buildings and areas from the threats of alterations, trade, which created the town’s identity. It is a popular additions and demolition. tourist destination and, with the decline of the herring High-quality new design is part of the conservation fishery, it became the base for the southern North Sea process. However, in Great Yarmouth the major threat gas industry. to this finite and precious resource is from neglect and However, Great Yarmouth has inner city levels of redundancy. In 1990, 87 of 335 listed buildings in the deprivation and unemployment. In August 2000 an urban area were at risk.

44 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 The second main aim was to develop major enhance- develop the scheme design and business plans to create ment and grant programmes to achieve conservation- viable end uses, and develop the major capital and led regeneration. The public sector’s role is to provide revenue finance to fund and sustain projects. a framework of support to encourage private sector and In 1992, the GYPT was able to save a 16th cen- BPT investment, providing gap funding for repairs, to tury timber-framed building complex at Baker Street, achieve viable end uses with robust business plans. Gorleston. The borough council had served a CPO and An important factor was the need for the continu- general vesting declaration, and passed the buildings to ity of public sector programmes. A town scheme with the trust, which was carrying all the financial risk. With English Heritage for five years from 1991 assisted 50 an Architectural Heritage Fund loan and funding from buildings. This was followed by a three-year conserva- seven different sources, the trust carried out a £351,000 tion area partnership scheme. A further three-year scheme on buildings with an end value of £190,000. heritage economic regeneration scheme with English The GYPT became the first trust to work suc- Heritage grant-aided 37 buildings. With £540,000 of cessfully with a housing association (Orbit Housing grant aid generating £3 million of building works, these Association), creating four flats. It reduced its risk, as schemes began to turn the tide of neglect. it was able to lease the upper storeys before the work In 2003, a £2 million Heritage Lottery Fund town- was complete. The ground floor shop has been let, scape heritage initiative grant with £2.6 million East of ensuring a small revenue stream to pump-prime other England Development Agency and European Objective projects. 2 funding created a £4.6 million common fund. Over At Market Row, a 16th century house and shop were five years this supported 86 projects with total project severely damaged by fire in 1995. Great Yarmouth costs of £20 million. It also created 120 flats in Living Borough Council served a 215 notice and won the case over the Shop schemes with housing associations and in the magistrate’s court. This legal mechanism can private landlords. The GYPT initiated three projects force the repair of a listed building in a conservation within this scheme, valued at £7 million. area if it can be proved that there had been a detriment For the first time, due to the generous support of to the conservation area. Although the borough won the Heritage Lottery Fund, the borough council was the case, the owners had in the meantime set up a able to provide the level of resources required to turn company with no assets and abandoned the building. around areas of neglect and redundancy in the town. The GYPT purchased the building for £1, and the The number of buildings at risk in the urban area has shortfall in funding between the £140,000 cost of been reduced to 16. repairs and the eventual value of the building was met A third aim to promote the borough’s heritage along by English Heritage CAPS and a historic building with the protection and enhancement role was a central grant from the borough. component of the borough council’s regeneration strat- The structural repairs were completed and the upper egy. The Great Yarmouth Heritage Strategy brought storeys leased to Orwell Housing Association, which together all groups with an interest in heritage, setting provided £40,000 for the residential refurbishment. out proposals for the effective conservation, interpreta- The trust was able to fit out the ground floor shop, tion and promotion of the borough’s heritage. obtaining another rent stream to fund further schemes. The Great Yarmouth Heritage Partnership, with In 1999 the GYPT purchased 26 South Quay to Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Norfolk Museums establish the Norfolk Nelson Museum. The Grade II and Archaeological Service, English Heritage, the listed building had been empty for 10 years. The National Trust, Great Yarmouth Local History and GYPT assembled £575,000 capital funding with six Archaeological Society and GYPT, was formed in partners (East of England Development Agency, single 1996. Its aims were to protect, enhance, promote, regeneration budget, GYBC, English Heritage, the port educate, inform and inspire people to the value of authority, GYPT and the Ben Burgess Trust), who pos- their heritage. sessed a large collection of Nelson memorabilia. Saving The borough council has an excellent track record this three-storey 18th century listed building close to for positive protection with the use of urgent works English Heritage and National Trust properties helped notices and intervention through repairs notices, com- to build a critical mass of museums on the historic pulsory (and negotiated) purchase, and back-to-back South Quay. arrangements with the local building preservation trust. The trust took the lead to save the former Tower The borough council’s role was to use its statutory Curing Works, listed Grade II and the finest example powers proactively through to compulsory purchase of a Victorian herring curing works. The building was order, general vesting declaration and if necessary, the owned by a Panama-registered company based in Land’s Tribunal, in confidence that the GYPT would Athens, which had acquired the building in settlement take all the financial risks. of a debt. A GYBC urgent works notice stopped the The trust acts as the local entrepreneur where building from further deterioration and a repairs notice there is a lack of private sector activity to save historic encouraged the owners to negotiate with the trust. An buildings. The role as project organiser for the GYPT Architectural Heritage Fund feasibility study proved ensures that the trust can provide project leadership, the viability of the project. The aim was to restore the manage all the site assembly and ownership issues, building and bring together the county’s maritime

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 45 collections, which told the story of the people, fishing permission and listed building consent for a housing industry and maritime history, and showed the scale of scheme with a ground floor shop. the industrial process undertaken on the site. The aim of the Aspire Project which developed Following a district valuer’s valuation, the trust was was threefold. First, to repair the structure of the able to negotiate the purchase of the derelict site for buildings, using £635,000 THI funding before March £44,000. In 1998 it acquired the property and paid 2008. Second, to develop a new housing use geared back Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s £10,000 to the needs of homeless people aged 16-25 years urgent works costs. The building required £1 million of using £1,355,000 Housing and Community Agency structural and fabric repairs. A detailed conservation and housing association funding available after 1 April plan was prepared in 2000. Work on Tide and Tide, the 2008. Third, to develop a supporting office to provide Museum of Great Yarmouth Life started in 2002 and education, training, employment, health and housing was completed in 2004. support, using £475,000 GYBC prudential borrowing The £5 million project’s funding included a £2.5 against projected rent streams once the centre opened. million Heritage Lottery Fund grant, and EEDA, In Great Yarmouth there is a major problem of youth European Objective 2, single regeneration budget, homelessness, with 70 young people in need of support. English Heritage, GYBC and GYPT finance. A The Aspire Centre is the result of multi-agency working £750,000 loan from the Architectural Heritage Fund by a project group of statutory and voluntary agencies and a £250,000 loan from GYBC provided the finance to provide a foyer facility. Although initiated by the for the project’s cash flow. With Norfolk Museums GYPT, due to its complexity this £3,151,000 project and Archaeological Service and GYBC, the trust was needed to be taken over by the borough with GYBC as able to save an important listed building and create a the accountable body for the purpose of grant funding. major cultural, educational and tourism resource for In my role as borough conservation officer, I acted as the borough. project leader with 12 funders and 12 partners, includ- As fishing and its related industries created the ing Norfolk County Council and Orwell Housing town’s identity, this project was at the heart of the Association. partners’ efforts to rebuild confidence and civic pride The conservation-led project involved the repair within the community, giving people access to and and the conversion of the building with a lease of 17 ownership of their own heritage. This was a flagship residential units to Orwell Housing Association. The project to regenerate a neglected and undervalued area centre will be revenue funded by NCC’s Supporting of the town and to help change the perception of Great People, with the Benjamin Foundation offering a Yarmouth regionally and nationally. housing support service to the young people. For the first time the townscape heritage initiative These projects have shown the benefit of the borough (THI) common fund allowed the resources to ensure council working in partnership with the preservation that the conservation section and the GYPT could trust. Good partnership working with a range of resolve long-standing building at risk cases. The THI institutions, and the support of English Heritage and common fund of £4.6 million had targeted five critical the Heritage Lottery Fund, can provide a framework projects. The GYPT was to take the lead on three, with for the trust to manage capital funding and perform an £1.7 million grant aid which developed projects valued entrepreneurial role in saving buildings at risk. at £7 million, creating 44 residential flats with shops There is a vital role for the local authority conser- and offices. vation officer. However, the Architectural Heritage The bankruptcy of a property developer in 1990 had Fund has an important role in providing access to left the listed Boulton’s Warehouse on North Quay, a inexpensive capital. This is pivotal in supporting trusts former 17th century merchant’s house, in the hands in taking on significant risks to save buildings ignored of the bank. The borough council had implemented by the private sector. The AHF, an efficient and urgent works notices to protect the structure. In 1999 effective organisation with a small staff, has a consider- the trust carried out a detailed feasibility study, which able national impact in supporting conservation-led showed that a housing use was viable. Following a regeneration. repairs notice, the building was purchased by the The Association of Preservation Trusts has an equally GYBC for £10,000, with the agreement that the important role in providing a framework of support, trust would implement the scheme. An adjoining encouraging trusts to make the correct judgements. building was purchased, and eventually the trust The wealth of experience in the regional and national scheme for 19 units of residential accommodation was networks can provide a valuable source of advice, implemented by Flagship Housing Association in a resolve problems quickly and provide confidence to Stephen Earl is £2.4 million scheme. new trusts. conservation and heritage At Market Row the GYPT took the lead in saving Capital funding for projects will become even more manager at Great Yarmouth Borough Council an early 19th century merchant’s house, altered in difficult in the future. Central government could and project organiser 1890, with an adjoining 17th century row cottage and learn lessons from the dynamic partnerships that can for the Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust. He was a former public house. Following a repairs notice, the develop between a local authority conservation service awarded an MBE in 2007 building was purchased for £70,000 by GYBC with and a building preservation trust, the AHF and the for services to heritage and local government. support from GYPT, which had obtained planning APT for the benefit of the community and economy.

46 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Heritage THE DPP Heritage provides a range of specialist CONSERVATION conservation services to both private and public STUDIO sector clients, government departments and agencies, local authorities and English Heritage. Since 1994, one third of the local authorities in England and Wales have made use of our services. We can help you with:

I Conservation Area Management I Characterisation Studies I Conservation Plans I Site evaluations and building assessments I Article 4 Directions I Buildings at Risk Surveys I Local and statutory lists I Urban design and the public realm I Regeneration grant bids I Conservation audits and strategies England Contact Roger Mascall Wales I Staff training and locum support Scotland 020 7092 3600 For further information, please contact Eddie Booth Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland www.dppheritage.com or Chezel Bird on 01285 642428 or email us on: [email protected] www.dppllp.com

www.theconservationstudio.co.uk 1 QUERNS LANE CIRENCESTER GLOS GL7 1RL

DPP Heritage.indd 1  21/04/2010 10:57:46          Heritage training live on site!   The Penicuick House Project includes a range of seminars and  practical courses for building professionals and contractors.    Training is delivered on site at Penicuik House as part of the  project to consolidate this important ruin. 

For further information please visit  www.penicuikhouse.co.uk

PHPT is a charity in Scotland: SCO 14118 and a Limited Company, registered in Scotland SC313664 Registered Office: 19A Caledonian Exchange, Edinburgh EH3 8HE

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 47 JENNY WETTON Public perceptions of conservation areas Local authorities need to recognise that although there is a great deal of support for conservation, many people feel excluded from it and fail to understand official decisions.

Left: The Grade II* listed Houldsworth Mill, designed by AH Stott

Right: Houses in Houldsworth designed by AH Stott for mill workers

In ‘Heritage values in a conservation area’ (Context As part of the character appraisal process, SMBC 109, May 2009), Crispin Edwards reported his use of carried out public consultation by sending a question- the values expressed in English Heritage’s Conservation naire to all affected addresses and holding public meet- Principles. He took them as a model to look at the ings with an exhibition. The response rate for Station values of stake holders in the planning process, based Road/Winnington Road was reasonable for a postal on a case study of a conservation area in Manchester. questionnaire. That for Houldsworth was the worst the My own research has explored the knowledge and council had ever had for a conservation area consulta- planning experiences of people living and working in tion. The drop-in meetings reflected the response rates. two conservation areas in Stockport. The Marple meeting was extremely busy, while very The Houldsworth Conservation Area1, a planned few people came to the meeting in Houldsworth. industrial community in the Reddish area, consists People in both areas were primarily concerned with of industrial, ecclesiastical, educational and com- buildings and trees. Potential council improvements munity buildings and terraced houses. Issues in the to the streets were popular. There was more concern area included the diminishing of the area’s significance with the effectiveness of the conservation area and with due to replacement doors and windows. An Article 4 enforcement in Station Road/Winnington Road. direction was proposed. I carried out structured interviews with five residents Stockport’s cotton industry went into decline in the from each conservation area who responded to the 1920s and production in Houldsworth ceased in the consultation questionnaire and agreed to help with the late 1950s. The area suffered from unemployment and research. became a dismal environment with a number of huge, One of the main issues was a sense of exclusion. vacant buildings. In 1991 Stockport Metropolitan People were more likely to feel disaffected in Station

References Borough Council (SMBC) declared the area a neigh- Road/Winnington Road, where some people had 1 Stockport MBC, bourhood renewal area and the ward became eligible poor experiences trying to improve the conservation Houldsworth Conservation for European funding under Objective Two2. Although area. Feelings of alienation from official culture need Area Character Appraisal, SMBC, 2007 Stockport is traditionally seen as an affluent borough, to be overcome if conservation is to succeed. People 3 2 Stockport MBC, there are significant pockets of deprivation . living in rented property were more likely to want Houldsworth Mill The Station Road/Winnington Road Conservation no change within the conservation areas. Although (brochure, undated) Area4 developed as a late 19th century railway com- there was more support for the conservation area in 3 Stockport Partnership, muter suburb in the wealthier township of Marple. Houldsworth, the low response rate is likely to mean Working Together for a Better Stockport: local area All the properties are set back at a regular distance that only those who felt strongly responded. agreement, Stockport from the road and have well-proportioned gardens to There was a considerable lack of knowledge of Council, June 2006 the front, side and rear. Issues in the area included the planning controls in force in both conservation 4 Stockport MBC, pressure for the development of sites at higher den- areas and of when planning permission is required. Station Road/Winnington Road Conservation Area sity and sub-division of larger properties for multiple People were particularly ignorant of the implications Character Appraisal, occupancy. An Article 4 direction was proposed for of Article 4 directions. The imposition of Article 4 SMBC, 2007 those properties currently in single family use. Marple directions could prove very unpopular. Although these 5 Stockport Partnership, has low levels of deprivation, low crime rates, relatively were supported, many people will not have understood The Stockport Community Strategy, good levels of health and above-average levels of edu- the associated costs. There is no conservation fund in 2003 [online] cational achievement5. place to assist with this.

48 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Residents in both areas wanted more information of individuals. If one of those people moves away, the References 6 on conservation area planning controls, the council’s organisation needs to rebuild a position of trust. Larkham, PJ, Residents’ Perceptions of Conservation: consultation processes and the conservation areas Another issue which came out of this research was case studies in the West themselves. Some of this information is available on the a concern with climate change. Residents were trying Midlands, Working Paper council’s website, but unless users know the appropriate to reduce their carbon footprint by improving the Series 74, Birmingham, University of Central terminology, it can be hard to find information there. insulation of their properties and installing renewable England, 1999 6 The statement of community involvement discusses sources of energy. However, controls in conservation 7 Stockport MBC, Local consultation of the local development framework and areas mean that new windows and doors should Development Framework: of planning applications but in rather inaccessible normally be made out of traditional materials and statement of community involvement, 2006 [online] language. in appropriate designs. These cost more than uPVC 8 English Heritage, The council’s departments and decisions were also and may make the installation of power generation Heritage at Risk: estate perceived as being inaccessible. Some people perceived equipment difficult. agents’ survey results the conservation areas to be ineffective because of People want a ‘nice place to live’ and clearly expect a [online] 9 inconsistent application of controls, but probably also conservation area to fulfil this description10. Conversely, Pendlebury, J and Townshend, T, ‘The because of their lack of knowledge of the need for if those who are living there at the time feel alienated Conservation of Historic permission and a lack of monitoring of local change. from the special nature of the area, they will be less Areas and Public There was a need for funding to help with mainte- inclined to look after it in an appropriate way. If people Participation’, Journal of Architectural Conservation nance, especially in lower income areas. Although can be encouraged to identify with the conservation 2 (July), 1999 original features will add to the value of a property7, area they live and work in, they are more likely to 10 Lindsey, HS, some people may be priced out of a conservation area, want to become involved and help preserve the area’s Conservation Area Appraisals and with resultant gentrification and, potentially, a change character. However, there is a history of top-down Management Plans: the in character. management of conservation areas by local planning effects of BVPI 219, MSc Residents had a broad perception of conservation authorities. This is reinforced by the lack of involve- Dissertation, UCLAN, 2007 and of conservation areas, beyond the controls over ment of local communities in the preparation of 11 Mattinson, D, ‘The buildings. They expected that the area should start to appraisals, and by current guidance which concentrates Value of Heritage: what look better after designation, particularly in the appear- on what should be included and fails to detail how it does the public think?’ ance of streets and other parts of the public realm, and should be reported. in Capturing the Value of Heritage: proceedings of that council maintenance should extend to trees and The plethora of articles on the subject in the profes- the London conference, hedges along all roads. sional literature has failed to improve public involve- London, English The tendency of local planning authorities to consult ment and knowledge of planning controls. Although Heritage, 2006 rather than involve local people was borne out by this there is a great deal of support for conservation, many 12 English Heritage, Heritage at Risk: national research, and it was reinforced by the imposition of people feel excluded from it. Although SMBC goes survey results [online] BVPI 219 and its consequent need to have character considerably further to consult local people than it appraisals completed in a short time period8. Lindsey is required to, it could do more to help people feel has highlighted the shortage of human resources involved in their local conservation areas. in many authorities for the production of character A recent English Heritage survey identified one in appraisals, and the lack of training in working with seven conservation areas as being at risk from neglect, the public and in generating community involvement9. decay and inappropriate change11. One cause of the Character appraisals have been carried out by council steady erosion of local character has been the inappro- staff, consultants and volunteers, all people removed priate replacement of doors and windows in residential from the conservation area. properties. Where incomes are low, people have less Outreach work could help to engage disaffected money to spend on appropriate designs and materials. residents, help them to identify with the area’s special While it is good to see councils withdrawing permitted nature, and encourage them to become actively involved development rights, funding for local conservation with keeping the area special. Building relationships work is needed. Otherwise a consequence of Article 4 takes time and often depends on one or a small number directions could be gentrification.

Left: The Station Road/ Winnington Road Conservation Area in Marple

Right: The Lock-keeper’s Cottage on the Peak Forest Canal

Jenny Wetton works for Kathryn Sather and Associates, heritage conservation consultants. Her research was carried out for her masters in architectural conservation at the University of Central Lancashire.

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 49 Gardens and designed landscapes Thirty years of listing landscapes

It is only comparatively recently that sites, which were given a grading for Scotland, to form Scottish parks, gardens and designed landscapes similar to that for listed buildings – Natural Heritage, meant that they have come to be recognised in their Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II. shared responsibility for this aspect own right as an important facet of our Subsequent survey work has seen of the cultural heritage with Historic cultural heritage, and that there has the number of sites rise to nearly Scotland for a time, recent changes been a systematic approach to their 1,450, of which around 10 per cent have seen Historic Scotland take full listing and protection. Although the are considered to be Grade I – that is, responsibility for the Inventory. Athens Charter for the Restoration of international significance. Of the A review (begun in 1993 but yet to of Historic Monuments (1931) states remaining sites which are considered be completed) has seen the number of that ‘attention should be given to to be of national interest, 30 per inventory sites rise to 386. Rather than the protection of areas surrounding cent are classed as Grade II*, and awarding an overall grade to a site, historic sites’, and the Venice Charter the other 60 per cent as Grade II. as for listed buildings, the inventory for the Conservation of Monuments In Wales the compilation of the measured six criteria (since increased and Sites (1964) speaks in terms of Register was made the responsibility of to seven) on a five-point scale, ranging ‘urban and rural setting’, it was not Cadw or Welsh Historic Monuments. from ‘outstanding’, through ‘high’, until 1968, and the formation by the Drawn up between 1992 and 2002, ‘some’ and ‘little’ to ‘none’. While it International Federation of Landscape and subsequently augmented, the can be seen as a more precise and Architects (IFLA) of an International Welsh Register now includes details sensitive measure of a site’s value than Committee on Gardens and Historic of 372 sites, graded in the same the overall grading adopted in England Sites, that the profile of designed way as in England, 10 per cent as and Wales, it can prove difficult when landscapes as such began to be raised. Grade I, 23 per cent as Grade II*, trying to compare relative importance. Although further progress was and the remainder as Grade II. Northern Ireland began the made in 1970 with the creation Scotland was early to seize the process of listing gardens with the of a joint committee of IFLA and initiative, with the publication in 1983 formation in 1980 of the Northern the International Commission on by the Countryside Commission for Ireland Heritage Gardens Committee Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), it Scotland of A Study of Gardens and (NIHGC). Rather than adopt what was not until 1976 that a UK-ICOMOS Designed Landscapes in Scotland, a pilot might be described as the top-down Historic Gardens Committee was study of 32 selected sites. This laid approach used in the compilation of formed to promote the conservation the foundations for the compilation the UK mainland registers, in which of designed landscapes. Its publication of An Inventory of Gardens and the specialist knowledge of gardens of A Preliminary and Interim List of Designed Landscapes in Scotland by the among members of advisory panels Gardens and Parks of Outstanding commission, in partnership with the was called on, the committee chose Historic Interest in 1979 can be seen Scottish Development Department’s to compile a ‘comprehensive’ list as a first step in the process of listing historic buildings and monuments of all significant gardens in the six gardens within the UK, backed up by directorate. Completed in 1987, counties, whether extant or extinct. voluntary input from members of the this included details of 275 sites. The NIHGC’s Heritage Garden fledgling Garden History Society. The Although the merger of the Nature Inventory 1992 was a list of around 700 process of listing was given additional Conservancy Council in Scotland sites, from which sites were then selected encouragement with the publication with the Countryside Commission to create Northern Ireland’s Register of by the ICOMOS-IFLA Committee in 1982 of the Florence Charter on Historic Gardens. This recognised gardens as ‘living monuments’, the conservation of which requires a different approach from other aspects of the built heritage. England is the only part of the UK where the responsibility for listing was enshrined in law with the passage of National Heritage Act 1983, which charged English Heritage with the compilation of a register of gardens considered to be of special historic interest. Drawn up between 1984 and 1988 with the help of an advisory Tranquillity and autumn colours combine in this view of the Crathes Castle in Aberdeenshire is widely known for its panel, the Register identified 1,085 18th century water gardens at Studley Royal in Yorkshire. fine herbaceous borders and handsome trees.

50 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Historic Parks, Gardens and Demesnes. First published in 2004, with details of some 267 sites, the list has since increased to include 304 sites, divided into two categories – 154 ‘register’ sites being regarded as of ‘exceptional’ value, and the 150 remaining ‘supplementary’ sites being regarded as having a ‘high’ level of interest. A similar bottom-up approach was been adopted in the Republic of Ireland, where an initial map-based survey, commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in 2003, has generated a list of over 6,000 sites, both extant or extinct. Work has since begun on more detailed assessment of these sites on a county-by-county basis. To date only the data for County Louth, to the north of Dublin has been published, while that on Donegal is in the pipeline. Information on the remaining 24 counties is yet to be Spectacular carpet bedding at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire keeps a Victorian tradition alive. completed and published. Although there is an intention to develop an Irish While current planning guidance Not only that, but one could see register in which sites will be given obliges local authorities to have the imposition of such powers as a value, this seems some way off. appropriate policies in their having major resource implications Given the top-down approach adopted development plans for the protection for cash-strapped local authorities. by the three mainland UK government of gardens and designed landscapes, The dynamic nature of gardens agencies in the selection of sites, the it has taken a disappointingly long and designed landscapes, in contrast English and Welsh registers and the time for these to be formulated. Nor to other aspects of the built heritage, Scottish inventory represent only a are the policies which have been creates special challenges for those small part of the three nations’ garden formulated robust and consistent. who are charged with their protection heritage. In consequence, work has had Although some progress has been and conservation. As their components to be continued by others on the listing made towards giving recognition to the age and die, gardens must be of sites of regional or local significance. wider garden heritage, as in the draft permitted to evolve. At the same South of the border, much Heritage Protection Bill in England, time owners should be allowed the valuable work has been done by the and Scottish Historic Environment freedom to add new features where 36 county gardens trusts, much of Policy (2009), the language is one of these can be seen to add value. it with voluntary input from their encouragement rather than requirement. On the one hand there are strong members. In Wales similar work has Consequently there are many local arguments for strengthening the been done by the Welsh Historic authorities which fail to recognise the protection of gardens and designed Gardens Trust, while in Scotland existence of unregistered landscapes. landscapes through improvements to secondary listing has been undertaken What many people do not realise the current legislation and planning partly on the initiative of local is that the inclusion of a site in the guidance. On the other hand, to prevent authorities, and partly by the Garden English, Welsh and Irish registers, landowners seeing designation as being History Society and its members. or the Scottish inventory offers little yet another burden on their property, While each of the different approaches real protection to the gardens and and a restriction on their freedom, to the process of listing can be seen to landscapes concerned. While local government must consider how best its have its strengths, the variations both in authorities are required to see the objectives could be achieved through criteria and scoring make comparison existence of a registered site as a the encouragement of best practice in between different parts of the UK material consideration in determining land management, and the through difficult. It is disappointing, too, that the planning applications, they are not the targeted application of grant aid. secondary listing, whether commissioned obliged to take notice of advice from The issue was succinctly put in a by local authorities or being done on a the relevant government agencies. Nor sentence to be found in the carefully voluntary basis, is not being done in a are there any powers of enforcement argued discussion paper Scotland’s more consistent and coordinated way. equivalent to those which can be Future Landscapes: encouraging a wider The existence of lists is a necessary applied to listed buildings. debate, published by Scottish Natural prerequisite for the protection of This has led to much debate about Heritage in 2003. ‘Designed landscapes gardens and designed landscapes the need for statutory powers to be contribute greatly to the appearance through the town and country introduced, to protect registered of the landscape, but their long-term planning system. Without appropriate sites. While that might be seen as survival remains at risk and will not planning policies to back them up, a desirable objective in the longer be secured without targeted action.’ however, the lists themselves do little term, the drafting of the necessary Christopher Dingwall, research adviser to to protect designed landscapes. legislation would surely be problematic. the Garden History Society in Scotland

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 51 Historic Environment Conservation A postgraduate practical course offered by the Ironbridge Institute A development of the former English Heritage Programme CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

CLEANING MASONRY BUILDINGS David Odgers 21-24 June

CONSERVATION AND REPAIR OF STONE MASONRY Graham Abrey 6-9 September

CONSERVATION AND REPAIR OF TIMBER For further details contact Harriet Devlin at Richard Harris 20-23 September Ironbridge Institute, Coalbrookdale, Telford, Shropshire TF8 7DX CARE AND CONSERVATION OF visit www.ironbridge.bham.ac.uk, HISTORIC FLOORS telephone 01952 435 969 (fax 01952 435 937) Jane Fawcett 11-14 October or email: [email protected]

Supported by T: 01243 818219 E: [email protected] West Dean, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0QZ www.westdean.org.uk/college

School of the Built Environment Department of the Built Environment Where better to study Historic Conservation at MSc Conservation of Buildings postgraduate level than Oxford? The Oxford MSc/Diploma in Historic Conservation is long established Are you… and highly regarded. It builds on the strengths and traditions of both n A Property, Surveying or Architecture Graduate? Oxford Brookes University’s School of the Built Environment and the University of Oxford’s Department for Continuing Education. n A Non-Cognate Graduate with Heritage Experience? Covering all areas of competence identified by the IHBC, the course n A Professionally Qualified Property Specialist? can be taken by full-time, part-time or mixed modes of study. n Passionate about Heritage and developing your career For information please contact: in Conservation? Senior postgraduate administrator t. 01865 483684 The course includes: e. [email protected] n Conservation and Legislation – Geography & Geology School of the Built Environment n Facilities Maintenance of Historic Buildings Oxford Brookes University Oxford OX3 0BP n The Science & Economics of Historic Buildings n Surveying the Historic Building – Chronology, Design & Interpretation.

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For further Click: www.anglia.ac.uk/context information: Email: [email protected] Call: 0845 271 3333 www.brookes.ac.uk/schools/be

52 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Architecturally speaking New life for a great survivor

On first hearing that yet another for its rarity. Few new churches were the fire, went on to survive both the church has embarked on fundraising built at all in the Jacobean period, war and also the Baltic Exchange for its renovation or restoration, although many were refurbished and, bomb of 1992, which blew out the it can sometimes be difficult for due to the fire, St Katharine Cree’s is centre of the 1630s rose window. conservationists and architectural the only Jacobean church to survive in Robert Hooke, with the surveyor historians to muster the requisite London. It is one of only eight churches Peter Mills (1598–1670), began marking amount of enthusiasm for the project. in the City to survive the Great Fire. out the new streets of the City using However, to allow ourselves, either The Great Fire, which began in the stakes of timber. Starting in Fleet Street, corporately or individually, to become early hours of Sunday 2 September they completed the entire task between complacent (or even battle-weary) 1666, consumed 87 parish churches March and May 1667. St Katharine about the situation could be to overlook and six consecrated chapels. It gutted Cree’s, right in the heart of this 17th some of the real architectural gems St Paul’s Cathedral, whose lead roof century building site and one of the few among our churches and perhaps melted and, according to the diarist remaining structures in the City, became even the solutions to their struggles. John Evelyn and other eye-witnesses, a focal point during the rebuilding. The St Katharine Cree church in Leadenhall flowed down Ludgate Hill. The fire church opened its doors and was used as Street in the heart of the City of destroyed three city gates, 52 livery a refectory for feeding the workers and London is one such architectural company halls, the Customs House, builders every day as they reconstructed gem. Its unique role in the aftermath the Royal Exchange, Newgate Prison, their livery company halls in the City. of the Great Fire of London in 1666 Bridewell and at least 13,200 domestic Today St Katharine Cree’s, no longer a also makes it invaluable historically. dwellings. Eighty thousand Londoners parish church but a guild church, seeks The church is currently raising money were made homeless at a stroke, flocking to make provision for the very large for a surprising renovation which to open ground such as Hampstead daytime population of the City involved will see it returning to a use that Heath and Moorfields to escape the in commerce, finance and industry. As it once had in the 17th century. fire and watch the destruction. of autumn this year, the church plans to The Grade I church was almost This national crisis immediately revert to its 17th century use combining completely rebuilt in 1630, retaining prompted Charles II to create a its role as a place of worship with a only the Tudor tower from the previous commission to consider the rebuilding refectory for City workers, thus feeding church, which dates to 1504, in the of London. He personally appointed both body and soul. St Katharine new structure. In pure architectural the architects Sir Christopher Wren Cree’s new, combined use has a historic terms the building is a hybrid of late (1632–1723), Sir Roger Pratt (1620– precedent and will ensure the survival medieval or Tudor architecture, heavily 1685), Hugh May (1621–1684) and of this unique Jacobean building. laced with early attempts at classicist Robert Hooke (1605–1703), among Most parish churches have led forms and decoration. St Katharine others, to make plans for the task. The relatively quiet lives in comparison to Cree’s unknown architect was clearly proposals put forward by these men, St Katharine Cree, especially those experimenting with the transition from under the aegis of Wren, formed the located in our rural English villages. the gothic to the renaissance, and the basis of the Rebuilding Act (passed Perhaps, though, the details of individual fabric of the building records this phase in 1667), which focused on domestic church histories may unearth some of architectural history particularly well. property. A second Rebuilding Act was surprising results. Their past uses, The church happily accommodates passed in 1670 to enable and supervise no matter how unorthodox, may just a stylistically confused but beautiful the building of 51 new churches in inspire the ‘appropriate, modern’ clerestory of classical pilasters and London, to be funded by a tax on all use for which we are searching. gothic windows. It also has a fine Tudor coal being imported into the capital. Carole Fry, a director of AHC Consultants rose window (purported to be modelled The new churches, almost all on the larger one at St Paul’s Cathedral designed by Wren and Hooke, were References which was destroyed in the Great Fire). nearly all completed in the 1670s and Lisa Jardine, On a Grander Scale, the This exists alongside a classical arcade 1680s. All new churches were in use outstanding career of Sir Christopher of Corinthian columns and renaissance by 1696. Many of the steeples and Wren, Harper Collins, London 2002 arches. Externally the walls appear towers were added later, however, which Giles Worsley, Classical Architecture in Tudor in their construction but are accounts for the more confident use of Britain: the heroic age, Yale University decorated with classical ornaments the classical style on these steeples and Press, new Haven and London 1995 such as the pedimented doorcases. towers, compared with the main body Howard Colvin, A Dictionary of British The value of the church lies not in its of some of the churches. Sadly 27 of Architects 1600–1840, Yale University architectural purity but in the record the 51 new churches were destroyed in Press, New Haven and London, 1995 it provides of the transition between the blitz during the second world war. TF Reddaway, The Rebuilding of the two styles. It is also highly valued St Katharine Cree, having survived London after the Great Fire, 1940

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 53 IHBC consultations Scrutinising government

IHBC consultations consultant James covered all policy aspects, the scope approved statement. There is often Caird writes: One might have expected, and detail of policy on the historic no proper substitute for bespoke with (as I write) an election pending, environment appropriately concentrated conditions for listed building consents. that the flow of consultations might on the submission of contextual Devising a methodology for producing abate somewhat. Not a bit of it: evidence on the historic environment such conditions might be useful. since my last report the institute with applications. The draft NPSs We responded to the Penfold has considered 17 consultations adopted almost identical wording. The Review of non-planning consents. and submitted responses in all but institute argued that consistency would We had the fortunate opportunity two of them, with a further six be improved by their being actually for individual oral contributions by pending a post-election response. identical and preferred the ports several officers of the institute, as At the time of writing, PPS5 Planning version, as this was the more demanding well as a full written submission. It for the Historic Environment has just on the requirements for evidence to seems that about every two years been published. Inevitably there is be submitted with applications. there needs to be a re-exploration of some feeling that it does not cover The consultation on permitted the widespread view in parts of the the ground as well as PPG15, but it development for low-carbon development industry that the need is evident that the PPS has benefited infrastructure did not consider heritage for statutory consents of all sorts is an greatly from the institute’s input (for assets adequately, particularly as unnecessary burden in the quest for which we must gratefully acknowledge regards conservation areas and the a sound economic future. Each time the contribution of the RTPI, which setting of listed buildings. Bearing in the institute finds itself having to point joined in the response with us). mind the very low savings of resources out the economic benefits of quality In this pre-election period, concerns predicted for the proposed relaxations, place-making and the special benefits continue to be widely voiced about we also commented that the strength attributable to historic sites and areas. the government’s commitment to of argument in their favour was low. The full response is on the website. the historic environment based on The four recent consultations on The proposed Vision for National the draft PPS5; the draft national development management procedure Parks was generally sound but policy statements for the various types were aimed at tidying up the advice to lacked reference to specific appraisal of infrastructure falling within the local planning authorities on procedure. techniques. We commented that remit of the Infrastructure Planning They did not largely affect historic the final draft of the Ecclesiastical Commission; the revised guidance environment issues. Improvements Exemption Order sought to include to local planning authorities arising to general planning procedure were non-ecclesiastical assets on ecclesiastical from the Killian-Pretty Review; broadly consistent with the procedural property, and assumed that controls and, still under consideration, draft aspects of PPS5. One aspect on which under the exemption would be of PPS Planning for a Low Carbon we made detailed comments was the uniform quality across all sees and Future in a Changing Climate. The use of conditions. Correspondence provinces. The English Heritage obvious strength of the government’s with members of the institute consultation on the blue plaque scheme commitment to a low-carbon future revealed dissatisfaction with standard was exemplary in its comprehensiveness, is being read by some as a lessening conditions covering heritage issues clarity and illustration. of commitment to heritage issues. but the consultation reiterated the We also commented briefly on However, given the enormous range long-standing policy of not including National Enforcement Priorities for and extent of heritage designations, too much detail in conditions. Wales and Listening to Communities, it seems unlikely that these could be As a result the institute argued while the Scottish branch commented given absolute priority over climate for a format for standard conditions on permitted development change policy if that is to achieve its for the historic environment to be rights for microrenewables. objectives. Thus it is inevitable that based on a formula requiring the As always, thanks are due to the the two policy areas will have to be submission and approval of method many people who contribute to this weighed against one another on a statements before work starts, with work, including those in the areas of case-by-case basis. It will be up to requirement for compliance with the devolved administration where special heritage practitioners to ensure that contexts always apply as well as more heritage issues are given appropriate general principles. Members of the weight. We can be seen to be doing institute are able to participate in this by heeding Policy HE1 of PPS5. the consideration of consultations by The draft NPSs on ports and energy contacting me at consultations@ihbc. infrastructure were reasonably good, on org.uk. The responses themselves are the whole. Bearing in mind that they all available on the website: www.ihbc. were development-oriented policy and org.uk/consultations_archive.htm.

54 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Notes from the chair Days of future past

By the time this column is printed, we will have a new UK government with new ministers and with more than half of MPs being new to the house. Key decisions over the coming months are likely to impact on the built environment sector. Public spending priorities in particular will affect heritage jobs and projects across the public, private and third sectors. Hang on to your seats! The pre-election period was interesting for the heritage sector, with uncertainty to the last minute over whether or not the new PPS5 would be issued. The IHBC was involved in talks with English Heritage and the Department of Communities and Local Government until the very late stages of developing the PPS, and the must be careful of unconsidered and services in all sectors. But hopefully final version of the document took counter-productive, knee-jerk reactions. there is now a better understanding account of many of our concerns. It remains to be seen how heritage that it is neither desirable nor Indeed, the feedback from members protection reform will develop under realistic to try to merge spatial so far has ranged mainly from neutral the new administration. It is likely planners, architects, surveyors, urban to fairly positive. In particular, there that more limited reform of legislation designers, archaeologists and others appears to be a real sense of relief will have to be considered than was into a generic profession. Rather over the content of the final PPS, envisaged, perhaps on the back of a there is a need to appreciate the given the rather dismal state of the general planning bill. There are key range of skills and disciplines in all earlier consultation document. questions to address if legislative sectors necessary to deliver complex The ministerial statement in reform is to proceed. For example, how heritage projects and services in a particular has been welcomed by would an integrated list differentiate changing built-environment sector. many. The guidance document that between buildings with utility value It is not enough to understand accompanies the PPS is generally felt and monuments incapable of use? It heritage significance alone. It is also to be the weaker of the documents, would clearly be nonsensical to apply necessary to understand the role especially on issues like design, demolition criteria based on viable that heritage plays as part of the where it fails to integrate with wider uses to structures incapable of use. infrastructure of our society and planning policy and guidance. But I am due to stand down as chair economy. This requires heritage we can hope that the guidance can be in June. It has been a pleasure to priorities to be reconciled with the strengthened over the coming year. serve the IHBC, which continues to needs of owners and occupiers, local The new format for planning policy grow in terms of membership and communities and a wide range of social, statements does mean an even greater influence. My roles with the IHBC economic and environmental factors. tendency for policy and guidance have included consultations secretary, The last three years have seen affecting historic environments to policy chair, vice chair and finally chair. transformations in the economy, be spread across a range of policy The experience has been fantastic the planning system, environmental statements. The current draft PPS and I would really recommend to priorities and heritage policy. The on sustainability illustrates this. This members to get actively involved IHBC has had to adapt accordingly. could have a massive impact on local with the institute, including younger Our membership has grown and the designations. It could be damaging members with whom our future lies. characteristics of that membership have not only to local areas, economies and It does take time and commitment, changed, with an increasing proportion communities, but could lead to the but it is uniquely rewarding. from the private sector. There has been technical failure of some buildings. There have been frustrations too, a great deal of change. I will doubtless This would be bad in heritage terms such as some surprising misconceptions remain to be actively involved with and would lead to less sustainable about the nature of professional the IHBC, but I am looking forward outcomes. Addressing climate change is bodies and the different professional to a slightly more restful time ahead. clearly a priority for the sector, but we disciplines that deliver heritage Dave Chetwyn, [email protected]

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 55 Director’s cut Au revoir, Devon

Many of our members will have her own accord she established our come to know the substantial talents Facebook and Twitter operations. and energetic dedication of our These provide an attractive and open membership services officer, Devon new resource linked to our work, one DeCelles. Devon is now to leave us, that appeals especially to those seeking for a post with the National Trust for an initial, less formal interface with Scotland. She will, no doubt, be a our activities. Already, at the time huge addition to an organisation that of writing, these have memberships can fully benefit from her skills, and respectively of 189 and 298. As we to a new team that will, I am sure, move forward with our new corporate value and enhance her many abilities. plan, this area of our outreach is Devon’s role in our recent progress becoming increasingly important. can not be over-estimated. Her Devon has provided the foundations work has touched on many of the essential for its development. most important areas of our recent She has also been at the centre of development, while she has also activities for supporting our public helped lead the shaping of some profile, in particular at events, both crucial areas. Most new members internal and those of sector partners. will have come across Devon as Since her arrival, every quarterly report the first person responding in the to council has featured lists of events membership application process. She in which she has played a part, whether has done this, as I know from many directly through her presence at stands, independent reports, with a dedication or indirectly through overseeing our and timeliness, and personal courtesy, presence. Distributing fliers, organising council, which was to Edinburgh, which represents all that we want to and appearing at events, providing was the first big challenge for offer as an organisation that depends encouragement for volunteers and Devon. She came through with flying on members and fellow professionals. new members, all these have been colours. Not only did she source During her time Devon has also a big part of the strategy that has accommodation, sort booking, support played a central role in developing helped add some 200 members a the linked seminar programme our outreach, initiating and shaping year each year since she arrived. which was attended by some of our social networking operations. Of In this context, our first travelling Scotland’s most senior professionals with historic environment interests, and manage programme work, but she also helped arrange and source catering and entertainment. The profound interest in the conservation of the historic environment that distinguishes all our members is also reflected in Devon’s activities. She represented the intellectual and professional interests of our growing trading arm, IHBC Enterprises, when she was successfully seconded to Historic Scotland to carry out research into cold war sites as part of that agency’s forward designation programme. This was an enjoyable and challenging opportunity for her, but also a good opportunity for the IHBC to show what it could deliver through its fast-growing research and development interests. With her own Devon DeCelles’ post-graduate conservation studies focused on cold war structures such as Tarland Post, next to post-graduate conservation studies Historic Scotland’s Tomnaverie Stone Circle near Aboyne, Aberdeenshire (see Context 107, November 2008). into the highly specialised area of

56 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Membership notes cold war studies, she showed how the skills that the IHBC seeks to cultivate are both practical and informed. Welcome to new members The IHBC Gus Astley Student Award is another area that has grown with Devon’s responsibilities. The many students who have entered the Thanks to all those members who have The following members were award know of and have responded paid their subscriptions by direct debit voted in at the council meeting on to her informed guidance and or who have sent in a cheque. If you 29 April 2010. Welcome to you all. encouragement. This covers everything have not yet paid your subscription from the technicalities of the evolving please do so now by sending in a Full member digital submission process, and the now cheque. If you do not intend to Hannah Porter (SW) substantial guidance on the process, continue membership please let us to the encouragement for nervous know in writing as soon as possible. Upgrades from affiliates to full members speakers often giving their first public If you have any queries relating Paul Robertshaw (LO) talk at the IHBC’s fringe of the annual to your subscription or need to Victoria Thomson (SO) school, and of course helping us source advise us of a change to your relevant speakers in their own right. contact details please contact us Affiliate members Developing our NewsBlogs and by email at membershipadmin@ Chris Betts (EA) email alerts was a process much helped ihbc.org.uk. Thank you. Karen Bewick (LO) by Devon’s innate understanding Jo Evans, [email protected] Bawden Burrows (EA) of how to communicate effectively Joanna Burton (EA) in the modern world. The first Helen Carrington (EM) conversation I had outlining the idea David Clark (SC) of the NewsBlog and associated alerts Jan Clarke (SW) was to Devon in Edinburgh from Huw Davies (WA) a mobile phone in Charing Cross. Peter Drummond (SC) I only needed to outline the idea and Camilla Finlay (SO) Devon was able to pick up on the Edmund Fox (EM) principle, and help move forward Juliette Griffiths (WM) discussions with our IT team, all Natalie Hamilton (EM) with the most cursory of outlines. David Harris (WA) Polyglot, SPAB member and events Jamie Hicks (EM) organiser, Devon has also revealed her Mark Jennings (EA) substantial commitment to the IHBC Kasturi Khanolkar (YO) by leaving at a time when the impact of Benjamin Kirk (SE) her departure is about as minimal as it David Langdon (SO) could be. She is phasing her departure Terrence Lee (WM) so that she will be able to maintain Sarah Leete-Groves (EA) her role in the current annual school, Ciaran MacCullagh (LO) maintaining her role as a volunteer in Christine Mathews-Sheen (WA) our Facebook and Twitter operations, Elizabeth McCrone (SC) and helping with the transition by Stuart Mee (SE) making herself available to advise on Susanna Miller (LO) procedures during this time of change. Alison Morris (SC) Interestingly, the title of this article Vasanthi Nelliah (LO) also applies to Devon’s immediate Sandra O’Brien (LO) successor, Joanna Theobald, who is Claire Price (LO) part of the consultancy team that Karen Pritchard (SW) provides our web services. Together Julie Quarry (EA) with her partner IHBC member Peter Emily Rimmer (NW) Badcock, Joanna has, with Devon, Joanna Roscoe (NW) helped develop our NewsBlog. Joanna Shaw (EM) Joanna and Peter are planning now Christopher Smith (SE) on the move from their home in the Karen Tate (EM) south west of England, in Devon. Jeffrey Titmus (EA) So, presuming that they will return Mark Vines (WA) there at least occasionally, they too Lynne Walker (YO) will be saying ‘au revoir, Devon’. James Weeks (LO) But it would be tasteless to make Vivienne Whyte (SC) anything of that coincidence. Seán O’Reilly, [email protected] Associate Member Elizabeth Mitchell (WM)

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 57 Vox pop

At the same time it can tell us what medieval peasants were eating, what their corn fields would have looked like and how the corn was harvested. What would you like to have been if you had not become a conservationist? A film director or, more plausibly, a global locations scout. How do you reply when at a party someone asks what you do? I am upfront about the APT as the conversation usually leads to asking them for some kind of support or involvement. What is the biggest frustration in your job? Generally, people failing to realise that the historic environment is irreplaceable, the most sustainable resource that we possess and an unrivalled catalyst for regeneration. Specifically, knowing that I am using only about three per cent of what my computer is capable of doing. What would you like to be doing in five years time? Sitting on a sunny veranda playing with my grandchildren or writing a novel. James Moir at the Vivat Trust’s North Lees Hall in Derbyshire (see p40) Maybe that is the 10-year vision. What is your favourite building? James Moir, guest commissioning editor for this issue’s theme on building I was lucky enough to grow up in preservation trusts, is director of the UK Association of Preservation Trusts an Old Rectory designed by Edward and works part-time as a conservation officer with Dacorum Borough Council. Buckton Lamb, so that was a good

Who has been your greatest inspiration? I find APT members hugely inspiring Someone different at each stage of my for their sheer tenacity in championing life – as a kid, probably my Dad, who buildings at risk. As far as anything else produced TV programmes about the is concerned, my partner Liz manages National Trust and wouldn’t hesitate to put all the above into perspective. to drive up to country houses and What has been your best idea? ask to be shown around. At school, Probably realising that historic my history teacher, who abandoned buildings are the best templates both the curriculum and spent a whole for great design and understanding term instead on the Observer’s Book past societies – in their massing, of Architecture. As a graduate, Colin proportions and detailing; in their Richmond, who taught me that dung use of sustainable local materials; in was as valid a topic of history as great the way they encapsulate the skills deeds. As a postgraduate, Raphael required to produce great architecture; Samuel, whose work on Headington in the way they are ordered into Quarry revealed that 19th century spaces that tell us about how past squatters could speak directly to societies lived and worked; in their you, and Charles Phythian-Adams, decoration and embellishment as who painted landscapes in words records of past aspirations and and wove together communities, achievements. Take historic thatch. folklore and social anthropology in It is a beautiful, sustainable material an inspirational cocktail. Right now, that bears an individual’s signature.

58 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Book reviews introduction to quirky buildings. In my first week of listing in 1984, I visited Youlston Park (without an appointment) at Shirwell in North Devon. The owner invited me in for a liquid lunch and showed me the whole house. We visited the 19th this in the context of the cocktail century game larder, the 18th century of psychological, cultural, political exterior, the Chinese Room, the and economic considerations that 17th century panelling and exquisite determine urban regeneration strategies plasterwork and, above the Georgian generally, and the deference or hostility dining room, a concealed base-cruck that the industrial component of roof. The house is a brilliant essay in the historic environment attracts. organic evolution. In the afternoon Madgin evidences a clear fug, I walked in the parkland and understanding of the nature of change came across the village skittle alley – a in cities, the complex perceptional converted railway carriage that turned processes that determine what is out to be one of the carriages from valued and rejected at any given point Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in time, and the degree to which train. I have no idea how it got there. the policy-makers and agencies of Your favourite place? regeneration anticipate, reflect or lag In spring, the Chilterns; in summer, behind the gamut of contemporary Brancaster beach in Norfolk; in values. As she explains, alterations, autumn, the Blue Ridge Parkway. additions and demolitions in the I am still working on that elusive historic environment leave an indelible sunny retreat for the winter. This year mark on the mental as well as the I discovered Berber mud architecture physical landscape of cities. The and the Sahara. But for a complete results do not always reflect local assault on all the senses, Varanasi values – including those of historical in India is etched on my mind as Post-industrial spirit association and human memory. an extraordinary experience. The vocabulary of Heritage, Culture Heritage, Culture and Conservation: Your favourite book? and Conservation does not shy away managing the urban renaissance Wilkie Collins’ Woman in White for the from direct, emotive language. Rebecca Madgin, VDM Verlag, 2009, 19th century, Graham Greene’s Burnt- Concepts such as sanitisation, 252pp, ISBN 978 3 639 15789 5, £67 Out Case for the 20th, and probably seduction of urban users, manipulation so far William Boyd’s Restless for the From William Blake’s ‘dark satanic of space and repackaging, characterise 21st, although Marilynne Robinson’s mills’ through the negative imagery of the portrayal of agendas that seek Home or The Secret Scripture by Charles Dickens and Emile Zola to the to market selected components Sebastian Barry must be close joint garden city movement in the UK and of the industrial urban heritage seconds. William Wharton’s Franky its counterparts on the continent, the as a commodity that accords with Furbo has also just popped into my industrial city did not begin to inspire certain of today’s economic and head as a truly magical read. a favourable press on either side of the cultural values, as opposed to the What do you do in your spare time? Channel until it had lost its formative, ones for which they were built. At the moment I am training for a first industrial revolution raison d’être. Case studies explore the extent marathon that I may or may not run. It is hardly surprising, therefore, to which the historic environment If that does not happen, it will that none of the four English historic has been considered relevant and come in useful as we are off town reports of the 1960s included a contributed to the reinvention of to Glastonbury this year. major industrial city or that none of the image and function of the post- What organisations are you a member of? the secteurs sauvegardés in France industrial city, and how this has been Ancient Monuments Society, comprised an industrial quarter. Even conditioned by the politics of place and Vernacular Architecture Group, in England, the world’s first purpose- institutional and fiscal frameworks. RICS, IHBC, Devon Buildings built railway town and precursor On the positive side, these Group and Bucks Archaeological of Swindon, namely Wolverton concentrate on the entrepreneurial Society. I am a trustee of the in Buckinghamshire, now part of spirit that enveloped Manchester Buckinghamshire Historic Buildings Milton Keynes, was not designated in the 1980s (the book focuses on Trust. The one I am most proud a conservation area until 2001. the regeneration of the Castlefield of is being the only member in Heritage, Culture and Conservation district) and the equally catalytic role England of the International has its origins in a doctoral thesis. The of the historic environment in the Association of Structural Movers. title of the book is misleading: its focus regeneration of industrial Roubaix in Which one issue would you particularly is on processes of urban regeneration northern France – specifically through like the IHBC to campaign on? in de-industrialised cities in Britain the conversion and reuse of the A campaign that prioritises a and France. Specifically, taking the landmark Motte-Bossut textile factory. buildings at risk programme 1970s as its starting point, the book On the negative side, Madgin encompassing Grade II and locally highlights the selective nature of the relates the protracted battle between listed buildings, and unlocks the values that are attributed to redundant the public, voluntary and private funding and mechanisms to deliver it. industrial buildings, and positions sectors which led to the loss in

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 59 2002 of the Liberty shoe factory in are well described and illustrated. Leicester, despite its iconic status in They range from simple insulation the urban fabric, and the reductio ad improvements to complex system absurdum of the communal memory designs. It quickly becomes obvious through the resiting of the symbolic that the solutions can impact the replica Statue of Liberty from its building in many different ways. A landmark position on the skyline full knowledge of the construction, to a plinth on a roundabout. and the expectations and actions of Heritage, Culture and Conservation the building users, are essential to is well-structured, well-written and, make the refurbishment a success. with its focus on the historic industrial The various refurbishment options environment, a useful addition to the discussed generally relate most readily literature on urban regeneration. The to the steel or concrete frame and comparative approach implicating lightweight construction of the mid- another European nation’s experience to-late 20th century. A case study is in the field is especially welcome. included which relates to a traditionally Dennis Rodwell, cultural constructed 1930s building, but this heritage consultant type of construction is not the focus for this book. Despite this, many of the have made to their community. proposals for increasing sustainability Embodied wisdom Refurbishment is the alternative, but could be considered for traditional in order to undertake a successful buildings. The pressure to improve The Handbook of Sustainable and sustainable refurbishment their energy efficiency will increase Refurbishment: non-domestic it is necessary to understand a the need to accept managed change. buildings number of interconnected issues. Although this book does not claim Nick V Baker, Earthscan, 2009, 172pp, Nick V Baker goes some way to to provide solutions to the highly colour photos and diagrams, unravelling this complex subject. His specific issues associated with many ISBN 978 1 84407 486 0, £49.95 book is a product of the European historic buildings, it does provide Currently we are bombarded with Union funded REVIVAL project, innovative ideas for improvements, information on the need to increase which set out to demonstrate that which may become increasingly energy efficiency and improve the demolition and rebuilding of necessary in the coming years. sustainability at every opportunity, in the vast stock of existing buildings The book is a challenging and both our personal and professional in European cities would result in a interesting read, providing complex lives. Arguments still rage as to whether large contribution to carbon dioxide technical solutions to issues which climate change is a media phenomenon emissions. Baker addresses the issue require a full understanding of building or a danger to our personal wellbeing. of refurbishment through three well- pathology. Baker has managed to Yet the continuous drive by the illustrated sections: principles, practice take the reader through the many government to create a lower-carbon and case studies. These explore the obstacles to sustainability in detail. society has resulted in some cases in many problems associated with older His book is aimed at the professional the demolition of traditional buildings buildings, which result in excessive and contains information which and the subsequent construction of energy use, including overheating will become increasingly relevant new, highly efficient replacements. through solar penetration, inadequate as refurbishment becomes essential This approach ignores the value service controls, poor cooling systems, to achieving the ever-increasing of the embodied energy within inadequate fabric insulation, and so on. government targets for efficiency. these buildings, in addition to any The solutions put forward for each Karen Heverin, conservation aesthetic contribution they may of these problems, and many others, officer for Oldham Council

historic Cathedral Communications is currently preparing the third edition of its

The Building Conservation Directory special reporT Building Conservation Directory Special Report entitled Historic Gardens: Magazine gardensThe care and conservaTion of hisToric parks, gardens and open spaces The Care and Conservation of Historic Parks, Gardens and Open Spaces (summer 2010) and will be sending a copy to each IHBC member who has asked to receive relevant promotional mailings. As usual, this special report offers a wealth of useful information for the historic built environment professional. Historic Gardens is supported by Cathedral’s website www.buildingconservation. com which certainly does merit a visit and should probably find its way on to your Google favourites list if it’s not already included. Members who have asked not to receive promotional material, but who would like to receive future Cathedral Communications publications on the historic built environment, should email Joanna Theobald at [email protected]. She will change the status of their mailing preference on the IHBC membership database.

60 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 DIRECTORY OF SPECIALIST PRODUCTS AND SERVICES S U P P L I E R S

Archaeologists CHEDBURN DUDLEY DAVID BIRKETT Index ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN Archaeologists...... 61 IfA YEARBOOK

Architects...... 61

Archives...... 62

Building Contractors...... 62

Courses & Training...... 62 Bath Brewery, Toll Bridge Road, Bath BA1 7DE Heritage Consultants & Tel 01225 859999 Conservation Managers...... 62 Fax 01225 859343 Email [email protected] Heritage Trust Funds...... 62 www.chedburn.com The conservation practice, Chedburn Historical Research...... 62 Dudley, aims to produce imaginative, Ptolemy House, Lower Wharf, sensitive and environmentally-aware Wallingford OX10 9DN Interiors Consultants & design solutions, set within the historic Tel 01491 825457 Conservators...... 62 built environment. The practice’s work Fax 01491 825434 Institute for Archaeologists Email [email protected] SHES, The University of Reading, covers the conservation, restoration, Metal Windows...... 62 alteration and refurbishment of historic www.birkettarchitecture.co.uk Whiteknights, PO Box 227, This Thames Valley practice is a team Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AB buildings that require a specific set of Metalwork...... 62 skills and rigorous attention to detail. of four architects and designers with Tel 0118 378 6446 expertise in repair and conservation Fax 0118 378 6448 With over 40 years experience across a Mortar Tools...... 63 broad spectrum of projects, Chedburn of historic buildings and the design of Email [email protected] new buildings in historic context. The www.archaeologists.net Dudley offers an alternative to the larger Mortars & Renders...... 63 practices in this field. practice also undertakes interior design. Published by Cathedral Several awards and short listings Communications, this very useful annual CONSERVATION ARCHITECTURE have been received in the 28 years of Paints & Finishes...... 63 working guide to the UK’s archaeology & PLANNING business. profession includes complete listings Wey House, Standford Lane, Planning Consultants...... 63 of all IfA members along with essential Headley, Hants GU35 8RH DONALD INSALL ASSOCIATES industry contacts. Editorial articles Tel 01420 472830 Stained Glass...... 63 highlight the most pressing issues Fax 01420 477346 in UK archaeology, and a directory Email [email protected] Stone...... 63 of specialist services enables you to www.capstudios.co.uk locate the right archaeologist or support CAP are award winning, long established Structural Engineers...... 63 service provider for the job. £30.00, architects and planners. Working 140 pages. exclusively with historic environments: Surveyors...... 63 historic buildings, areas, quality new buildings, major studies, policy, Window Glass...... 63 Architects guidance, surveys, urban design, regeneration, funding, appraisals, Windows...... 63 ACANTHUS ASSOCIATED conservation plans, expert witness and ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICES related services. Contact Jack Warshaw. Windows – Roof Lights...... 63 19 West Eaton Place, See advertisement on page 43. D L G ARCHITECTS London SW1X 8LT 11–29 Fashion Street, Windows – Secondary Glazing...... 63 ARROL & SNELL LTD Tel 020 7245 9888 London E1 6PZ St Mary’s Hall, St Mary’s Court, Fax 020 7235 4370 Tel 020 7426 3630 Shrewsbury SY1 1EG www.insall-architects.co.uk Email [email protected] Tel 01743 241111 also at • Marshall Mill, Marshall Street, Fax 01743 241142 • Canterbury Tel 01227 761616 Leeds LS11 9YJ Email [email protected] • Cambridge Tel 01223 303111 Tel 0113 394 6900 Over 30 years experience of high-end • Chester Tel 01244 350063 Email [email protected] conservation work and challenging new- • Shrewsbury Tel 01743 351244 www.dlgarchitects.com build developments in historic settings. • Bath Tel 01225 469898 Chartered architects and designers Major schemes include those at Chester • Conwy Tel 01492 592378 with extensive experience in restoring Cathedral and York Minster. Clients • Belfast Tel 028 9024 6738 and revitalising individual listed include English Heritage, many historic The practice has over 50 years buildings of all grades, conservation buildings preservation trusts, local experience in the care and adaptation of areas and other existing properties. authorities and private bodies. Services historic buildings and towns, as well as Awards include environmental design, offered include building and landscape the design of new buildings for sensitive energy conservation and Civic Trust. design, grant applications, feasibility sites. Providing a comprehensive Professional services include feasibility studies, building surveys and historical service over a wide geographical area, studies, planning applications, contracts research. its projects have been recognised in administration. Member of Register more than 140 design and construction of Architects Accredited in Building awards. Conservation.

CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 61 DIRECTORY OF SPECIALIST PRODUCTS AND SERVICES S U P P L I E R S

J A B A ARCHITECT LIMITED THE WHITWORTH Courses & Training Historical Research Selah, Renwick, Penrith, CO-PARTNERSHIP LLP Cumbria CA10 1JZ 18 Hatter Street, ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY RELIABLE EFFECTIVE RESEARCH Tel 01768 898021 Bury St Edmunds, See advertisement on page 52. 17 Homestead Road, Fulham, London SW6 7DB Email [email protected] Suffolk IP33 1NE CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE Tel 020 7385 7824 JABA is concerned with both the Tel 01284 760421 HERITAGE, UNIVERSITY Reliable Effective Research (RER) offers conservation and adaptation of historic Fax 01284 704734 COLLEGE LONDON a personal service for those wishing to buildings. Detailed survey and a 1 The Close, Norwich NR1 4DH See advertisement on page 39. thorough understanding of construction Tel 01603 626782 establish a better understanding of their techniques provide the basis for defect Email [email protected] OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY property in its historical context. analysis and specification. Feasibility www.wcp-architects.com See advertisement on page 52. studies, reports and quinquennial Contact Matthew Stearn PENICUIK HOUSE inspections undertaken. Chartered architects and surveyors PRESERVATION TRUST Interiors Consultants offering conservation, repair, surveys JULIAN HARRAP ARCHITECTS See advertisement on page 47. & Conservators and defect analysis of historic buildings 95 Kingsland Road, together with sympathetic alteration and UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM, HIRST CONSERVATION London E2 8AG extension projects for their clients. THE IRONBRIDGE INSTITUTE See advertisement on page 43. Tel 020 7729 5111 See entry in Surveyors section, See advertisement on page 52. Fax 020 7739 8306 page 63. Specialists in repair and re-use of WEAld & Downland historic buildings, applying innovative Open Air Museum Metal Windows design with a core philosophy of See advertisement on page 47. CRITTALL WINDOWS minimum intervention. Recent major Archives WEST DEAN COLLEGE See advertisement on page 16. work for clients includes: Sir John ENGLISH HERITAGE/NATIONAL See advertisement on page 52. Soane’s Museum, London, The MONUMENTS RECORD Monument, City of London, The Royal See advertisement on page 41. Metalwork Pavilion, Brighton and Wind Tunnels, Farnborough. Heritage Trust Funds CHRIS TOPP AND CO LIMITED PURCELL MILLER TRITTON LLP Building Contractors THE ARCHITECTURAL See advertisement on page 43. HERITAGE FUND C R CRANE & SON LTD Alhambra House, STAINBURN TAYLOR Manor Farm, Main Road, 27–31 Charing Cross Road, ARCHITECTS LTD Nether Broughton, London WC2H 0AU Sear House, Bye Street, Leicestershire LE14 3HB Tel 020 7925 0199 Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2AA Tel 01664 823366 Email [email protected] Tel 01531 634848 Fax 01664 823534 www.ahfund.org.uk Fax 01531 633273 Email [email protected] Since 1976 over 1,000 neglected Email [email protected] Award winning specialist building and historic buildings have been saved with www.stainburntaylor.co.uk joinery contractors. Experienced in the AHF’s help, regenerating economies, A practice specialising in the repair and SPAB repair techniques to brickwork, keeping life in town centres, sparing the adaptation of historic buildings and new masonry, woodwork, plaster, lead and countryside, providing jobs and training, buildings on sensitive sites. ironwork. housing and workspaces. Each building See advertisement on page 39. has another, less tangible but equally LINFORD-BRIDGEMAN LIMITED important dimension; ensuring continuity STUART PAGE ARCHITECTS See advertisement on the inside Forge House, The Green, of character and a sense of place. front cover. Carlton Husthwaite, Thirsk YO7 2BJ Langton Green, Tunbridge Wells, Tel 01845 501415 Kent TN3 0JB LINFORDSpecialist Works Fax 01845 501072 Tel 01892 862548 See advertisement on the inside Heritage Consultants & Email [email protected] Fax 01892 863919 front cover. Conservation Managers www.christopp.co.uk Email [email protected] Chris Topp and Co works to the highest www.stuartpage.co.uk C G M S Limited craft standards restoring historic Stuart Page Architects specialises See advertisement on page 16. ironwork using the techniques and in the repair and conservation of THE CONSERVATION STUDIO materials of the original maker. Also listed buildings. Commissions include See advertisement on page 47. new work in: wrought iron, cast iron, new uses for existing buildings, new mild steel, stainless steel, copper, buildings in historic landscapes and D P P HERITAGE brass and bronze. The company also conservation areas, interior design and See advertisement on page 47. undertakes consultancy work and landscape design. reports for use in grant applications.

62 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 DIRECTORY OF SPECIALIST PRODUCTS AND SERVICES S U P P L I E R S

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CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 63 Advertisers index

Acanthus Associated Architectural Practices...... 43 J A B A Architect Limited...... 62 Anglia Ruskin University...... 52 Julian Harrap Architects...... 62 Arbortech...... 39 Keim Mineral Paints Ltd...... 16 Architectural Heritage Fund...... 62 Linford Specialist Works...... inside front cover Arrol & Snell Ltd...... 61 Linford-Bridgeman Limited...... inside front cover Beacon Planning Ltd...... 39 The London Crown Glass Company Ltd...... 33 C G M S Limited...... 16 Lumen Rooflight...... 33 C R Crane & Son Ltd...... 62 Mike Wye & Associates Ltd...... 33 Centre For Sustainable Heritage, University College London...... 39 Nimbus Conservation Limited...... outside back cover Chedburn Dudley...... 61 Oxford Brookes University...... 52 Chris Topp & Co Limited...... 62 Penicuik House Preservation Trust...... 47 Clifford G Durant & Son...... 63 Purcell Miller Tritton LLP...... 43 Conservation Architecture & Planning...... 61 Reliable Effective Research...... 62 The Conservation Studio...... 47 Rickards Conservation...... 63 Crittall Windows...... 16 The Rooflight Company...... inside back cover D L G Architects...... 61 Ryder & Dutton...... 63 D P P Heritage...... 47 Scott Wilson...... 63 David Birkett Architecture & Design...... 61 Stainburn Taylor Architects Ltd...... 39, 62 Donald Insall Associates Ltd...... 61 Stuart Page Architects...... 62 English Heritage/National Monuments Record ...... 41 University of Birmingham, The Ironbridge Institute...... 52 Hall & Ensom Chartered Building Surveyors...... 63 Weald & Downland Open Air Museum...... 47 Hirst Conservation...... 43 West Dean College...... 52 Histoglass Ltd...... 43 The Whitworth Co-Partnership LLP...... 62, 63

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64 CONTEXT 1 1 4 : MAY 2 0 1 0 Rooflighting in the Conservation Environment

Flushness Somerset House, London Results of a recent survey conducted with 70 Conservation The Rooflight Company supplied 40 specially-designed rooflights for Officers highlight the fact that there is one overriding Somerset House in 1997. These were exact copies of the original, criterion for the desired appearance of conservation-style bespoke rooflights dating from the turn of the century. With access to rooflights. That is that they should be as flush with the roof the roof being a major problem low maintenance was essential, hence as possible. The survey also indicates that Conservation the decision to specify steel rooflights with a protective coating. All the Officers are concerned that some ‘conservation rooflights’ different sizes and shapes of rooflights had to be painstakingly surveyed do not adhere to this and present the glazing several on site with the appropriate design and dimensions drawn up and centimetres above the level of the roof. The Rooflight proposed to the project architect, George Goff of TGB Consult. Company helps to ensure flush installation by producing a A grey / olive colour was low profile design and by including flush slate details in our specified to match the installation manual and on our website. original Cumberland slate tiles of which most were retained. A second project for a flat roof at Somerset House consisting of six 600 x 1200 mm white Plateau Rooflights is currently being completed.

The Conservation Rooflight® developed by architect Peter King has fine Somerset House - 40 Special rooflights precisely lines and lies flush to replicate the cast-iron model copying the originals

Size Matters Roundhouse, Derby The second design consideration arising from the survey is Built in 1839 the the size of rooflights particularly on Listed buildings. Roundhouse at the Grade Conservation Officers stated that over-sizing was causing II listed Derby Railway the roofline to be dominated by rooflights. Since rooflights Works has been restored provide 20% more light than dormer windows, the size of and transformed for the rooflight can be scaled down; sensitive positioning is Derby Colleges by also very important. The Rooflight Company is the only Maber Architects and rooflight provider to offer 8 small and narrow rooflights in Special rooflights closely match the original contractors Bowmer and rooflights the standard range. Kirkland. The roof posed the largest challenge and consequently consultation from the Rooflight Company was sought both because of its poor state and because it offered one of the few opportunities to improve the thermal performance. Part of the reconstruction of the roof included the reinstatement of a circle of 48 trapezoidal rooflights, of which 36 had to open remotely using electric actuators. These rooflights needed to be 2.3m long and follow the line of the roof hip, but with straight bars. ‘There was a limited number of companies that could do that span and make them open,’ said Project Architect Ian Harris. These special versions of the Conservation Rooflight® from the Rooflight Company provided the ventilation and thermal requirements, and, with their slender frames, matched the appearance of the rooflights in the original photographs. The scheme as a whole has already featured in English The Conservation Rooflight® from the Rooflight Company has Heritage's recent “Constructive Conservation” book as one of 20 more sizes in different widths than any other supplier exemplar projects nationwide.

Visit the new website www.therooflightcompany.co.uk for technical information and over 50 case studies or call 01993 833108 for a ® brochure on the Conservation Rooflight . The Innovators in Rooflighting Conservators of Historic Buildings Nimbus Conservation and Monuments

Eastgate, Christchurch Street East, Architectural conservators specialising in the

Frome, Somerset BA11 1QD cleaning, conservation, repair and replacement of all types of masonry and plaster, to a wide t: 01373 474646 range of historic buildings and monuments. f: 01373 474648 Experienced main and specialist sub contractor. [email protected]

www.nimbusconservation.com Clients include English Heritage, National Trust, Historic Royal Palaces, Local Authorities and public and private bodies.