Localism and Heritage Working Together

View of Bristol Bridge across the harbour from Welsh Back. Copyright: Adrian Pingstone.

7 March 2012

The Council House, Bristol.

The Localism Act 2011 seeks to make the planning system clearer, more democratic and to place more influence in the hands of local people. But will it enable communities to understand and conserve valuable local heritage and maximise the contribution of the historic environment to create high quality places?

English Heritage and Bristol City Council have come together to explore what the localism agenda means for the heritage sector. Baroness Andrews, Chair of English Heritage, will open the morning session, ‘New Approaches and Partnerships'.

This will be followed by three case studies illustrating the new ways local authorities are working with their communities to understand and conserve their local heritage assets.

The afternoon session, ‘Local Placemaking', will focus on the experience of local placemaking in Bristol. It will also provide an opportunity to discuss new technologies aimed at broadening the understanding of local heritage, such as Bristol City Council's ‘Know Your Place'.

‘New Approaches and New Partnerships' is targeted at elected members, local government and private sector conservation, design and planning professionals, local amenity societies and community groups and any individuals involved in planning and managing change in the historic environment in the South West.

‘Local Placemaking' is aimed primarily at local amenity societies and community groups engaged in planning. It will provide an opportunity to share experience and consider the growing role of communities in shaping local places.

Chair: Professor John Punter, Chair, Bristol Urban Design Forum

0930 Registration and refreshments

0945 Welcome and introductions Cllr Anthony Negus, Bristol City Council Heritage Champion and Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration

1000 Keynote speech Baroness Kay Andrews, Chair English Heritage

1025 Questions

Case studies

1030 Bristol: The City Design Initiative Andy Gibbins, City Design Group Manager, Bristol City Council

1050 Cheltenham: Historic Environment Local Authority Capacity project Karen Radford, Heritage and Conservation Manager, Cheltenham Borough Council

1110 Break

1120 Oxford: The Oxford Heritage Plan and Toolkit Nick Worlledge, Heritage and Specialist Services Team Leader, Oxford City Council

1140 Discussion groups

1230 Plenary and feedback

1300 Close of morning session

A light lunch will be served at 1300 for delegates attending all day. Lunches must be pre-booked

Chair: Steve Pearce Greater Brislington Neighbourhood Partnership

1345 Registration for afternoon event

1400 Welcome and introductions Steve Pearce

Case studies

1410 Neighbourhood planning in Old Market, Bristol Paul Bradburn and Matthew Winterbottom, Old Market Community Association

1430 Engaging the Community in Fishponds, Bristol Mark Logan, Greater Fishponds Neighbourhood Partnership Planning Sub-Group

1450 A Local List for Bristol Bob Jones, Archaeologist, Bristol City Council

1510 Break

1520 Discussion

1630 Close of event

How to book a place E-mail localismandheritage@english-heritage.org.uk to reserve your place. Your place will be confirmed on receipt of the completed booking form.