Conservation-led regeneration works

Conservation-led regeneration makes a significant contribution to wider regeneration initiatives and sustainable development of communities across England. The English Heritage policy document Regeneration and the Historic Environment: Heritage as a catalyst for better social and economic regeneration (2005) sets out the benefits that arise from the appropriate use of historic buildings and structures. The English Heritage publication Capital Solutions (2004) gives more than twenty successful examples of the integration of the old and the new in London which have created dynamic and exciting places. In Capital Spaces – transforming London (2005), English Heritage and the Royal Institute of British Architects provide powerful evidence of the important role played by London’s rich built environment in making better places.

Heritage Dividend

Heritage Dividend: Measuring the results of English Heritage regeneration (1994-1999 and 1999-2002) and Heritage Dividend: Measuring the results of English Heritage regeneration East of England Region (2003) demonstrates the success of area-based heritage funding. It shows how investing in our historic environment helps to improve business confidence, give pride to local communities and strengthen the sense of place which makes the historic environment so popular. There are also a number of other studies that have been carried out in the UK and elsewhere that investigate the link between heritage and regeneration. Heritage Counts 2004 contains a list of these.

Conservation-led regeneration contributes 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 identifies a number of touchstones for successful conservation-led regeneration. These include initiatives that:

• Foster community cohesion
• Assist local entrepreneurs
• Enhance local distinctiveness and attract new investment
• Deliver new homes through adaptation and renovation
• Develop liveable towns and cities
• Contribute to social, environmental and economic sustainability

Guidance and policy documents are available on this website when accessed through the website's five topic buttons: Regeneration & Design, Understanding & Recording, Place & Placemaking, Managing & Protecting and Funding. English Heritage documents can also be searched and downloaded as a PDF by using the Guidance Library.

The HELM website has a list of guidance produced by local authorities, amenity groups and relevant bodies which can also be found using the Guidance Library. Case Studies may be searched for examples of good practice across the country.
 
HELM offers training for councillors and officers in local authorities and government agencies.