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

Your next update will be October 2010.

Conferences

We are delighted to be able to tell you about two upcoming conferences which you might be interested in attending.

what's new in heritage: developments and challenges for the local historic environment – joint English Heritage and Local Government Association Conference

On the 19^th July, English Heritage and the Local Government Association will be holding their second joint conference on the local historic environment. The day will focus on what the future holds for the heritage and local government sectors and will examine how unlocking the value of your heritage assets can contribute to achieving local priorities.

The conference provides an opportunity to hear directly from the Minister for Heritage & Tourism, John Penrose MP, about the new Government’s vision for the historic environment over the next few years, while the Chair of English Heritage Baroness Kay Andrews will be setting out how the organisation intends to take forward its work.

There will be opportunities to hear about and discuss the newly published Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment, and how other authorities are responding to particular challenges and opportunities – such as those around the transfer of heritage assets to local communities.

The conference takes place at Local Government House, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ on Monday 19^th July. For more information on the day, or to book your place at this event, please go to: .

National Heritage Champions conference

The date and location of the next national Heritage Champions conference has now been confirmed. It will take place on 15^th November at the Foundling Museum in central London. Whilst details of the programme are still being finalised, the day will include an address from English Heritage Chair, Baroness Andrews, a presentation on the recently launched Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment, and a workshop on what local authorities can do to combat the problem of heritage crime.

The conference will also give Champions the opportunity to share experiences with colleagues and learn from the approaches of others. The day will be rounded off with a drinks reception and the opportunity to explore the museum.

Attendance at this conference is free to all Heritage Champions, but space is limited so those who wish to attend should either email or phone Owain Lloyd-James on .

Online Designation

English Heritage will be launching an on-line application form for designation in July, this will be the first time that applications to list, schedule or register a heritage asset (or assets) can be submitted to English Heritage in one form and online.  This is the first phase of introducing an on-line application form which will later include full mapping functionality that will allow applicants to clearly indicate the area(s) they wish to be assessed.

Recent publications include:

Disposal of Heritage Assets

Guidance on the disposal of heritage assets for government departments and non-departmental public bodies.

Download Disposal of Heritage Assets.

Flooding and Historic Buildings

We know that the risk of flooding is likely to increase as a result of a changing climate and increased urbanisation. This revised and updated version of our 2004 guidance is designed to help those who live in, own or manage historic buildings that may be threatened by periodic flooding. The guidance provides advice on preventative measures as well as on the inspection, conservation and repair of historic buildings after flooding.

Download Flooding and Historic Buildings.

Understanding Place: Historic Area Assessments in a Planning and Development Context

This guidance explains how to undertake Historic Area Assessments. It complements Understanding Place: Historic Area Assessments : Principles and Practice (English Heritage 2010) which describes this approach in more detail and explains the way it relates to other approaches to understanding the character of place and its capacity for change.

Download Understanding Place: Historic Area Assessments in a Planning and Development Context.

Understanding Place: Historic Area Assessments - Principles and Practice

This guidance document offers advice on how to undertake assessments of historic areas – for a number of purposes and in a number of circumstances, but always with the objective of defining and explaining the character of a place and defining its significance.

Download Understanding Place: Historic Area Assessments - Principles and Practice.

Understanding Place: An Introduction

Good quality places are an important national, regional and local resource. The character and quality of a place has an influence on health and social well-being, nurtures community cohesion and inclusion, and draws in economic investment. Building strong places can help address the issues brought by climate change. Improving the quality of place is at the heart of sustainable development.

Download Understanding Place: An Introduction.

Coming Soon!

Safeguarding Archaeological Information: Procedures for minimising risk to undeposited archaeological archives

This document will be available from the English Heritage website, HELM and in leaflet version soon.

HELM Training 2010

HELM training continues to be well received by delegates with the pilot event for 'Archaeology in Planning and Development' in Newcastle on 20^th May proving very successful.

'Finding a Future for Traditional Farm Buildings: From spatial planning to local action' will be running on 9^th September in Brighton, aimed at Local Authority strategic planners and key stakeholders who deal with land management and historic environment issues as part of their job role. We can also confirm that four further 'Traditional Domestic Buildings and Energy Efficiency: Practical advice for Local Authorities' training courses will be running in September and October 2010 following the successful pilot training course in March.

Later in the year historic characterisation HELM training courses are running in Bristol (7^th October), and London (25^th November), as well as training on conservation areas in November 2010.

For further details please contact Sam Channer on , email , or visit our website helm.org.uk/training.

Heritage at Risk

The Heritage at Risk 2010 Register was launched on 07 July 2010.  The Register can be searched on an online database, and downloaded in regional volumes at www.english-heritage.org.uk/protecting/heritage-at-risk/.  This year the Register includes conservation areas, thanks to all of the information provided as part of the survey from colleagues at local authorities.  Following the launch of Caring for Places of Worship (www.english-heritage.org.uk/powar), we will be moderating the results of the 15% sample survey on listed places of worship and identifying those 'at risk' for inclusion in the 2011 Register.

Historic Environment Traineeship (HET) Scheme

Sadly we have to suspend this year's recruitment to the HET scheme. The suspension of new recruits to the scheme does not affect the two existing cohorts of trainees who we recruited in 2008 and 2009 and indeed they and the scheme are meeting all of their objectives very successfully.

English Heritage together with the rest of the public sector is making its contribution to the £6bn reduction in Government expenditure this year. Our share is just over £4 million, representing 3% of our grant in aid. In order to achieve this we have, among other measures, introduced a recruitment freeze for the rest of 2010/11.

The Historic Environment Traineeship (HET) Scheme provides work-experience training in professional conservation skills in the planning and development context and it enables the Trainee Historic Environment Managers to enhance both the depth of their specialist knowledge and the breadth of their inter-disciplinary awareness.

Please send us your case studies! 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. To find out more and receive a case studies form, visit the HELM website case studies section or .

Queenborough and Rushenden

Queenborough and its neighbouring residential suburb Rushenden are situated on the Isle of Sheppey off the north Kent coast, close to extensive marshland of both historic and nature conservation interest.

Queenborough and Rushenden HELM Case Study

South Shoreditch, Hackney

South Shoreditch lies at the heart of what is known in London development contexts as the ‘City fringe’, the future of which is a major public policy issue for Londoners. The dominant and distinctive character of this area derives from its history as a major centre of the furniture trade from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th.

South Shoreditch HELM Case Study

English Heritage Website Survey

Following the re-launch of the English Heritage website in May, we are setting up a user-group who can give us feedback on the site as it develops and new sections or features are introduced. We would contact individuals no more than four times a year and they would be asked to complete a simple survey or carry out a short telephone interview about a new aspect of the site. If you are interested in getting involved, please email: and include your name, job title, email address and a daytime telephone number.

You can also fill out the online survey form on the website. All feedback will be very gratefully received.

Pilot online forum in development

English Heritage has set up an experimental online forum to support networking, advice and knowledge sharing for public sector historic environment practitioners. The 'Historic Environment' forum will be developed alongside HELM and other training events and conferences, to provide a continuing community of practice for those working in the sector. It is part of the Improvement and Development Agency Communities of Practice website available at www.communities.idea.gov.uk. Registration to use the forum is free and open to all local authority staff and staff of national agencies to ask questions, make contacts, work together and solve problems.

Contact details

If you have any queries relating to this newsletter please email or phone Timothy Brooks on . If you wish to unsubscribe, please use the unsubscribe link.