Managing Built Heritage: The Role of Cultural Significance

This book examines management of the built cultural heritage through the use of the concept of cultural significance. It considers how and why cultural significance is assessed and how it can be used as an effective focus and driver for management strategies and processes. Effective management of the built cultural heritage requires a clear understanding of what makes a place significant (and how that significance might be vulnerable) but the book also emphasises that this understanding of cultural significance must inform all activities in order to ensure that what is important about the place is protected and enhanced. The book was written in the midst of much fundamental rethinking, both nationally and internationally, on approaches to the conservation of our built cultural heritage. Managing Built Heritage: the role of cultural significance is analytical and reflective but also draws on real life examples to illustrate particular issues, looking at current approaches and drawing out best practice. The authors consider key policies and procedures that need to be implemented to help ensure effective management and the book will be useful for specialists in built cultural heritage - conservation officers, built heritage managers, architects, planners and surveyors - as well as for facilities and estates managers whose building stock includes listed buildings or buildings in conservation areas.

Table of Contents:
1 Introduction to the concept of managing through significance. 2 Asset types, their managers and management implications. 3 Cultural Significance. 4 Conservation plans. 5 Managing use and change – aspects of site management Section 1 Management plans Section 2 Maintenance management Section 3 Management tools for historic areas Section 4 Heritage impact assessments Section 5 Management agreements Section 6 Design and Care guides and Quality standards guidance . 6 Epilogue – Sustainable Development

About the Author :
Derek Worthing has a professional background in Building Surveying and is a Principal Lecturer in the Faculty of the Built Environment at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Until recently he was Head of the School of Land and Property Management and is now co director of the faculty's Centre for the Study of Sustainable Buildings. He has carried out consultancy work in relation to the built cultural heritage for a number of national organisations and has published research papers in relation to Conservation Plans, the conservation of twentieth century architecture and the maintenance and repair of listed buildings. Stephen Bond is a Partner in Tuffin Ferraby Taylor and leads its specialist division TFT Cultural Heritage. Formerly Director of the Tower Environs Scheme and Surveyor of the Fabric at Historic Royal Palaces, he is an archaeologist by education and a building surveyor by profession, he is a Course Director for the RICS postgraduate programme in Conservation of the Historic Environment at the College of Estate Management. He is Visiting Fellow at the University of the West of England, Bristol and holds an honorary doctorate from De Montfort University.

Review :
"The book is clear and logical in its organisation, well illustrated both with photographs and case study examples … .A handy desk reference for the busy professional." (Journal of Architectural Conservation, November 2008) "It is a highly informative text and, therefore, must be invaluable to those who are part of this very specialised area of the construction industry/academia." (Building Engineer) 'Set out in a clear print, with good use of colour, visual illustrations and abundant real-life examples and cases (clearly set out in highlighted boxes), this volume would definitely make a great supplementary, or even core text, for students of built heritage conservation . While the specialists would appreciate the new evaluation approach presented by the authors, I believe the book would be a useful read for all built environment professionals. The evaluation approach is applicable to all contemporary structures and this book is certainly worth consideration for facilities management professionals.' (Facilities)