• Heritage Champions
• Heritage Protection Reform
• New Guidance and Information
• Training and Events
• Case Studies
• Website News

Welcome to the latest edition of the HELM newsletter. We are delighted to present this quarterly newsletter for your interest.

Each quarter we continue to provide information on the latest HELM and English Heritage publications, HELM training events, case studies and website developments. We aim to support Heritage Champions and other decision makers in local authorities, regional agencies and national organisations.

Your next update will be January 2008.

HELM Website Redesign

Following user feedback and site expansion, the HELM website has undergone a redesign. We are excited to announce that the redesigned site will be launched very soon so please check back to see the new HELM website and, of course, please let us know what you think!

Recent developments for Champions

National Champions Conference 2008

On the 23 October, in Lincoln’s Inn Field, central London, English Heritage will be holding a National Heritage Champions Conference. The day offers Heritage Champions the opportunity to:

• Hear how two Government Ministers view the role of Champions within the changing local government and heritage sectors;
• Discuss with other Champions what can be achieved in the role and how to best improve outcomes for your local authority;
• View the recently redesigned HELM website and discuss HELM with the people responsible; and
• Discuss with key policy makers what the draft Heritage Protection Bill will mean to your authority.

Further information can be found in the conference flyer. If you have any additional questions you can email or by phone Owain Lloyd-James on .

A tribute to Lord Bruce-Lockhart

Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, has paid tribute to former English Heritage Chairman, and former Chairman of the Local Government Association, Lord Bruce-Lockhart.

Heritage Protection Reform Update

July HPR Newsletter

The July HPR newsletter - aimed at local authorities and other practitioners, is now available as a download on the HELM website. It highlights the main impacts of the draft Heritage Protection Bill from a local authority perspective.

DCMS Select Committee report

The DCMS Select Committee has made their report on the draft Heritage Protection Bill available and this can be viewed on the DCMS website.

English Heritage and partners produces a range of expert guidance on diverse topics, much of it specifically tailored for the HELM initiative. If you have any queries and would like to discuss any of these publications, please and the appropriate person will get back to you. You can order hard copies from English Heritage Customer Services on or .

Recent publications include:

Microgeneration and the Historic Environment. This guidance is intended for householders and other building owners considering installing microgeneration equipment on their property, which may affect the historic environment. It is also aimed at those, including local authority development control planners and building control staff and their historic environment advisers, involved in control of householder planning applications and building control approvals. Download Microgeneration and the Historic Environment.

Understanding Historic Buildings: Policy and Guidance for Local Planning Authorities. This document sets out the English Heritage policy on the investigation and recording of historic buildings within the English planning framework. It provides advice on how a specialist understanding of the significance of an historic building and of its constituent parts, can inform a development proposal or scheme of works and assist in the decision-making process.

Download Understanding Historic Buildings: Policy and Guidance for Local Planning Authorities.

Enabling Development and the conservation of significant places.

English Heritage remains concerned by the potential for damage by developments contrary to established planning policy, put forward primarily as a way of benefiting significant places, but which destroy more than they save. Key aims of this second edition (which formally replaces the first) have been to update terminology, following publication of our Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance for the Sustainable Management of the Historic Environment, as well as references to legislation (particularly the change to Local Development Frameworks), case law, and decisions on appeal or call-in. Download Enabling Development and the conservation of significant places.

Mineral Extraction and Archaeology: A Practice Guide.

This document has been prepared by the Minerals and Historic Environment Forum as an aid to planning authorities, mineral planners, mineral operators, archaeologists and consultants. It provides guidance specifically for dealing with archaeological remains as part of mineral development through the planning process.
View more information on Mineral Extraction and Archaeology: A Practice Guide.

Streets for All: Practical Case Studies.

English Heritage, which launched the Save our Streets campaign in 2004, has now published the best “how to” examples from around the country in ten Streets for All: Practical Case Studies. These showcase examples of councils who have taken the initiative to deal with a particular aspect of street clutter.
View more information on Streets for All: Practical Case Studies.

Investigative Conservation: Guidelines on how the detailed examination of artefacts from archaeological sites can shed light on their manufacture and use.

These guidelines are aimed at archaeologists, finds specialists and museum curators who are involved in the planning and publication of archaeological projects with an expected finds assemblage, as well as finds liaison officers and other museum staff advising metal detectorists. Download Investigative Conservation: Guidelines on how the detailed examination of artefacts from archaeological sites can shed light on their manufacture and use.

Geophysical Survey in Archaeological Field Evaluation.

Guidelines to help archaeologists, curators, consultants and project managers to better understand techniques of geophysical survey. Download Geophysical Survey in Archaeological Field Evaluation.

The HELM website Guidance section contains a PDF library of current EH publications and a link to find the latest publications added.

Training

HELM offers training for elected councillors, heritage champions and officers in local authorities, regional agencies and government organisations. These take a number of different formats and may be aimed at specific audience groups or based on a specialist topic.

Information on HELM training and related events is continually updated in HELM website training section.

HELM training calendar for 2008-09

The HELM training team have successfully delivered eight training events nationally so far this year training over 350 historic environment and non-heritage professionals. Workshop titles included 'Finding a Future for Traditional Farm Buildings', 'Heritage Partnership Agreements' and 'Enabling Development' and all have received very positive feedback.

HELM training events have a limited capacity to ensure there is the opportunity for discussion and debate as well as more formal learning.  With this is mind, please ensure you read the ‘Who Should Attend?’ section of the promotional leaflet and decide with your colleagues who would best benefit from the specialist training.  Please see the calendar below for the remaining workshops on the 2008-09 programme and reserve your place by e-mailing .

Events

National Heritage Champions Conference 2008

See Heritage Champions section for details.

Two BURA Awards open for entries

Waterways Renaissance Awards - open for entries until 30 Sep

With 10 categories we hope that any waterway project has something to enter. These awards are run in conjunction between the British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA) and The Waterways Trust. Projects from across the UK, urban or rural, and from any sector may enter. www.bura.org.uk

Community Inspired Regeneration Awards - open for entries until 15 Oct

Recognising grassroots projects making a difference to their local area. Sponsored by Communities and Local Government for a third year running, these awards celebrate best practice in community inspired and led regeneration in urban and rural areas across the United Kingdom. www.bura.org.uk

HELM continues to collect case studies from throughout England to demonstrate the benefits of good decision-making in the historic environment. These are local stories which put theory into practice and show real results with positive benefits. Case studies can inspire innovative solutions, disseminate ideas and keep people informed of initiatives in their area.

Please send us your case studies! We are aiming to have at least one case study for every local authority. These cover all aspects of the historic environment and a range of themes, from regeneration and characterisation, to design in context and informed conservation.

Case studies are showcased on the HELM website as examples of good practice and can be searched by particular topic and administrative area. They may be used to illustrate new guidance and presentations. Case studies are continually being added to the website.

To find out more and receive a case studies form, visit the HELM website case studies section or .

England's Past for Everyone - Oxford

This project benefited from large-scale collaboration between professional historians and local volunteers. Building investigation was been carried out in partnership with the Oxfordshire Buildings Record (OBR), a voluntary organisation which encourages involvement in recording historic buildings.

England's Past for Everyone - Oxford HELM case study

England's Past for Everyone - Cornwall Religious Sites

Local volunteers play a key role in the EPE projects. In Cornwall volunteers have been recording religious sites in each parish in the county. Volunteers have been trained to use location and grid references, to document evidence found on a site and to reference stained glass windows and furniture.

England's Past for Everyone - Cornwall HELM case study

HELM Website Redesign

Following user feedback and site expansion, the HELM website has undergone a redesign. We are excited to announce that the redesigned site will be launched very soon so please check back to see the new HELM website and, of course, please let us know what you think!

Contact details

If you have any queries relating to this newsletter or to unsubscribe please email or phone Timothy Brooks .