Conservation-led regeneration works. Our area grant schemes are helping to transform run-down villages, towns and cities into thriving, vibrant places where people want to live and work. Heritage regeneration is better value, more sustainable, and people like it. (Sir Neil Cossons, Chairman, English Heritage October 2002)
Heritage Dividend 2002 updates the research published in 1999 as The Heritage Dividend. It examines the regeneration impact of area-based heritage funding through Conservation Area Partnership schemes (CAPS) and Heritage Economic Regeneration schemes (HERS) from April 1999 to October 2002. It shows that heritage funding continues to make a highly significant contribution to the regeneration and sustainable development of communities across England. By investing in the physical fabric of towns and villages -the buildings and the public spaces between them -we 'pump prime' wider regeneration initiatives and help to improve business confidence, give pride to local communities and strengthen the sense of place which makes the historic environment so popular:
Heritage funding programmes are contributing significantly and effectively to delivering the government's urban agenda of positive brownfield development, the re-use of existing buildings, the delivery of mixed-use and mixed-tenure housing, high quality public spaces and community cohesion -all of which ensure sustainability.
Heritage Dividend 2002 documents the impact of heritage investment across a number of indicators used to monitor mainstream regeneration funding programmes covering 21 case studies from up and down the country, using a methodology developed in partnership with and validated by the London School of Economics. It shows that HERS is an extremely flexible and accessible source of regeneration funding, which delivers high quality outcomes.
Heritage funding is often the first regeneration funding to be offered, creating the confidence in the future of a an area that is necessary to attract private-sector investment. It helps to change the way places are perceived and helps to build stronger community linkages as well as economic confidence.
The case studies features in Heritage Dividend 2002 include seaside resorts, former mining towns and rural areas, market towns, suburbs, district shopping centres and inner city areas. As well as the economic analysis, a selection of interviews with grant recipients is included, which demonstrates the sustainable impact on prosperity and quality of life.
The Heritage Dividend 2002
£10,000 of heritage investment leverages £46,000 match funding from private sector and public sources. Together this delivers on average:
- 41 square metres of improved commercial floorspace, plus
- 103 square metres of environmental improvements, plus
- 1 new job, plus
- 1 safeguarded job, plus
- 1 improved home
Lessons for the future
There are a number of common themes which are evident across the case studies and which continue to the touchstones of successful conservation-led regeneration:
Fostering community cohesion
Heritage funding focuses on local centres, the hearts of our communities. A number of the case studies demonstrate the impact of heritage grant programmes in turning around local perceptions, creating a context for local people to work together and creating opportunities for new local service delivery. Communities are involved from the earliest stages of the action-planning process, providing a model of good practice for successful regeneration.
Assisting local entrepreneurs
HERS predominantly grant-aid areas where there are many small businesses, often providing a new lease of life in run-down areas. Many of the proprietors interviewed for Heritage Dividend 2002 were considering closure or moving prior to the receipt of grant assistance, but heritage funding enabled them to remain and expand. Funding also encourages other local entrepreneurs to move in, taking up vacant floorspace and contributing to the economic viability and vitality of the area.
Enhancing local distinctiveness
The built environment is one of the most tangible manifestations of local history, and a key determinant of character and identity. In a context of increasing globalisation and the standardisation of high street multiples, it the built form that gives an area uniqueness, character and distinctiveness. Attractive and distinct places are highly successful at attracting investment.
Developing liveable towns and cities
The historic environment is a yardstick of quality and a key to creating attractive places for people to live, work and play in, and to visit. Through environmental improvements and repairs to historic buildings, heritage funding is contributing to the development of safer, more attractive and more accessible streets, buildings and public spaces.
Making regeneration funding accessible
Heritage funding programmes are amongst the most accessible for local people. Local project officers are able to guide small businesses through the application process, and the fact that funding is not required to be spent in the same financial year in which it is offered gives flexibility and ensures that there is no compromise on quality. Heritage funding programmes provide an excellent example of good practice and a model for future programmes.
Contributing to sustainable development
Conservation-led regeneration, through focusing on the adaptive re-use of existing buildings, with their embodied energy and long-since discharged environmental effects, contributes to environmental sustainability by minimising the use of natural resources. Traditional urban areas, with their high-density missed-use and mixed-tenure, provide a model for sustainable urban living in the 21st century.
This summary document can be downloaded as a PDF via the right-hand column. Contact English Heritage to order a hard copy of the full version.
