“The part played by local authorities in the stewardship of the historic environment is of fundamental importance.” (The Historic Environment: A Force for Our Future December 2002)

In 2002, for the first time we were given a clear picture of how local authorities deal with our historic environment. The overwhelming impression is of a conservation service that is frequently over-stretched, under-resourced and operating without many of the necessary policy and data ‘building blocks’ that would ensure an effective, efficient and balanced service.

Local authorities are likely to face considerable difficulties in addressing their responsibilities for managing the historic environment unless they can identify more resources and incentives to improve performance, such as the introduction of local performance indicators which reflect the extent of the historic assets in their care.

The Local Authority Conservation Provision leaflet is a summary of research findings taken from the Survey of Local Authority Conservation Provision in England. This was conducted on behalf of English Heritage and the Institute of Historic Building Conservation in 2002 by the School of the Built Environment, Oxford Brookes University.

The Local Authority Conservation Provision leaflet and full report can be downloaded from the right hand column.