Redundant Rural Buildings - an untapped resource

Seminar: 10.30am-12.30pm 1st October 2009, Llwynywermod, Myddfai near Llandovery

The 21st century poses many threats to the survival of rural communities. These include rising unemployment, the growing need for affordable homes, loss of a sense of place, and the urgent imperative to reduce energy consumption. It is possible to challenge this course by tapping into the potential of the historic environment. Many rural communities have redundant buildings which, if left unused become an economic burden and promote a general sense of decline and dereliction, but this trend is reversible. Adfer Ban a Chwm, a building preservation trust, was formed a year ago to address the problems of derelict vernacular buildings in rural Wales and the need for affordable housing for local people.

The Prince’s Regeneration Trust in partnership with Adfer Ban a Chwm (http://www.abcwales.org.uk) are holding a seminar to discuss how rural buildings can accommodate new uses to address economic and social decline whilst meeting the energy needs of the 21st century in a sensitive and sustainable way.

Download the seminar summary notes here:
SeminarSummaryNotes.pdf (83.4 kb)

Heritage of London Trust

The Heritage of London Trust organises visits, events and lectures on a regular basis. These events range from walking tours around London’s lesser known historic areas, to tours of historic buildings in and round London. Click here to see what's coming up.

The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment

Our sister charity holds a variety of events including lectures, seminars and tours throughout the year. Click here to find out more.

The Poundbury Series is an essential experience for those involved in the planning, design and building of housing developments in the UK and beyond. Click here to book your place.

Recycling historic buildings

The Prince's Regeneration Trust, in partnership with the Institute of Historic Building Conservation and the Civic Trust for Wales held a very successful conference in Llandudno attended by over 90 delegates on 26th March 2009.

The conference was aimed at those whose responsibility it is to manage Wales' heritage at a local level to show how a proactive approach to historic buildings at risk can deliver important economic, environmental and social benefits.

We are grateful to our excellent speakers who presented so engagingly and knowledgeably on an impressive range of issues. All of their presentations and handouts are now available from www.civictrustwales.org/recycling.html

Some feedback from delegates:

“A very informative and stimulating day”

“The difficulties that my Authority may and does face in the preservation of historic buildings are not unique and there are working practices to help”

“[I learned about] the need and importance of community understanding of local relevance of historic buildings”

“[The conference] has been very helpful in highlighting issues and providing ways forward”