Annual Conference

Heritage protection, heritage assets, conservation areas at risk, the value of townscape, are all high on the agenda at present. The HTF Annual Conference, to be held in Chichester on 21-23 October this year, will bring together expert witnesses, good practice case studies and recent research to support practitioners and decision makers. Read more

New Members

For further details Members can visit the Directory of Members in the Members Area.

Erewash Borough Council

Hertford Town Council

Nash Partnership

Powell Dobson Urbanists

Richard Baddeley & Company

Wiltshire Council

_Space Group

Cabe Space Scholarship Winner

Cabe Space Scholarship Winner Ian Poole, former HTF Chair, took delegates to the Shape East seminar, organised by English Heritage, on a virtual tour of Read more

New BURA Regeneration Training Programme supported by HCA

The new BURA Regeneration Training Programme developed with the support of the Homes and Communities Agency provides a comprehensive and in-depth insight into regeneration.

Join this unique programme to develop the skills, knowledge, experience and Read more

Book Review
Ground Control:
Fear and happiness in the Twenty-First Century City
Anna Minton

This book should be compulsory reading for all architecture and planning students, as well as recommended reading for already qualified practitioners in all fields impacting on towns and cities.

Ms Minton explores, through case studies...the move from aristocratic ownership of land and property, through the Victorian revolt to bring local authorities into being – for the 'pubic good' Read more

HTF is sponsored by:

New Chair for HTF

It was agreed at the 2008 AGM that the Executive Committee should explore and take forward the appointment of a Chair for the Forum. Pressures on local authority officers have led to a reduction in the amount of time they are able to give to this role and the growth of the Forum requires more time! Read more

CAAR Project

Analysis of the results of the recent English Heritage Survey of Conservation Areas has identified many issues which need to be addressed if Areas currently ‘at risk’ are to be protected.

In partnership with English Heritage, the Forum is planning a series of seminars Read more

Reflect on Retail Development in York - 23/24 September

The programme for this conference has a great deal to offer those facing decisions about retail development. After the pressure for expansion and growth in the good times, now is the time Read more

Park and Ride Guidance

The guidance published by EHTF in 2000 remains a ‘best seller’. However things have moved on in this field and the Forum is keen to continue to offer up to date guidance. Read more

Smarter Growth

Is your growth smart? That’s a question we are likely to be asking you soon. Following the Smarter Growth Conference on 30 April 2009 (see June Newsletter), the HTF has set up a Managing Growth area on its web site....

A small Working Group has now been set up to take this forward and Read more

HTF in Ireland

The conference held in Kilkenny in June emphasised the potential for joint working between HTF and the organisations in the Republic of Ireland responsible for the historic environment and tourism. The Forum’s work on the public realm and tourism management is held in great regard Read more

HTF Members in Ireland, Wales & Scotland

Since opening the Membership in January this year we have been pleased to welcome a number of new members:- 4 from Scotland, 3 from Wales, 1 from Northern Ireland and 2 from the Republic Read more

Practical Guide to National Infrastructure Projects

Law firm Bircham Dyson Bell (BDB), in conjunction with Butterworths, has announced the publication of the first guide to the wholly new process for obtaining consent for national infrastructure projects under the Planning Act 2008.

Under the Planning Act 2008 far reaching changes to the way in which such projects are both identified and approved were introduced. The changes are significant and Read more

Back in the Easy Chair

So it’s out at last – PPS15, 'Planning for the Historic Environment'. The long awaited (and long overdue) consultation paper invites comments by 30 October. The HTF will be formulating a response in the next 2 months and Read more

Measuring the Value of Urban Realm Improvements

A Case Study – Bristol Broadmead

We all know, intuitively that pleasant urban environments can attract visitors, investors, retailers, shoppers and, in turn, stimulate activity, vitality and enhanced safety. However, the case for allocating funding to improve the quality of the urban realm can be less clear-cut. In a scarce funding environment, funders and Local Authorities are keen to understand the measureable benefits this type of investment can bring. Now, more than ever, funders will want to understand where the money is going and where it will be able to translate into definable benefits.

Drivers Jonas (DJ) and Colin Buchanan (CB) have developed a methodology Read more

Planning for prosperous town centres? PPS 4 - its impacts & implications

The present ‘town centres first’ policy has been with us for over a decade. Initially designed to halt the regional out of centre shopping behemoths of the 1980s ‘PPG6’ has, over time been through several Governmental statements of clarification, has changed moniker (to ‘PPS6’) and in the latest twist in its evolution has had 2 rounds of consultation in the last 12 months.

The revisions promise Read more

Retaining Local Distinctiveness

Should towns look distinctive? As high streets and town centres sink into a glitzy sameness – same shop fronts, same logos – from one side of the country to the other, this question is beginning to exercise minds in local government.

We believe the answer is clear. People invest and want to live in places which look unique, not like everywhere else. It is also increasingly clear Read more

PPS15 Consultation

The nation-wide consultation on PPS15 is an opportunity to improve heritage protection whilst enhancing historic towns. HTF will respond to the consultation after testing the views of Members at the Annual Conference in October. We will also be working with English Heritage to ensure Read more.

HEREC

The Forum is fortunate to be represented on the Historic Environment Review Executive Committee, or HEREC as it is more conveniently known...

One of the Committee's key concerns in recent months has been preparing for the publication of Heritage Counts 2009. In addition to the usual status report on the historic environment, this year’s edition will include 2 important pieces of work. First, a review of policy priorities Read more