CONSERVATION PLANS

Sometimes referred to as 'Conservation Management Plans',  an Australian idea developed in the late 1990s by the National Trust for Australia and adopted shortly afterwards by English Heritage, The National Trust (England), the Church of England and the other large property owning heritage bodies of Britain.  The original was revolutionary, in attributing importance to 'cultural significance' rather than necessarily the material fabric of a building or monument, and in recognising the reality of relative significance: i.e. some things are more important than others.

The principles, simple and logical, would be obvious to any Facilities Manager: Understand the material, historical and social character of the site or building; assess the 'cultural significance' (importance) of those attributes to all possible stakeholders; identify the issues (obstacles) raised by the inevitability of change affecting those attributes; and promulgate a suite of management policies that would facilitate such change without compromising the essential cultural significance of the site or building.

       In practice this can be difficult and expensive. A great deal of intellectual effort has been expended in defining what 'cultural significance' means - much of it outside the UK  -  without creation of a clear consensus, whilst not all UK authorities recognise the concept of 'relative significance'. Furthermore, the  research and analysis necessary for a simple site such as an historic bridge or a prehistoric hill fort can run to 160-200 hours, whilst more complex sites such as the larger churches, castles and historic houses can easily consume 500 hours of chargeable time expended over periods of 3-12 months, often involving several technical and professional specialisms.  If that expense does not result in a change of management and, or regulatory burden agreeable to all stakeholders, the money that could have been spent on bricks and mortar will have been wasted.

At their best, Conservation Plans reveal to their sponsors and stakeholders the essence of their site - those attributes that distinguish it from all others and which are worth going to great lengths to protect and enhance, and those that are not: At their worst, they are expensive decision-avoidance strategies.  We have been involved in both.             

Eversfield  House

Station Road

WARMINSTER

Wiltshire

BA12 9BP

01985 847791

office@michaelheaton.co.uk