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The Prince’s Regeneration Trust, the charity of HRH The Prince of Wales which focuses on heritage-led regeneration, has responded to the problem of an increasing number of important historic buildings ‘at risk’ across the UK by launching Sustainable Heritage: An online toolkit for asset management. Research by the Trust shows that over 8% of these buildings are in the ownership of local authorities. Sustainable Heritage is designed to help local authorities and other public bodies make informed decisions about the future of heritage assets in their ownership, and to manage and dispose of these assets in a sustainable way. The comprehensive web-based resource is free and available online at www.princes-regeneration.org/sustainableheritage.

Once a historic building falls out of use, unless a new use can be found, it immediately becomes at risk from dereliction and decay. It is at this stage that the online toolkit provides valuable information about how to ensure historic buildings remain economically viable and contribute positively to the local community when their current use comes to an end. Sustainable Heritage highlights the importance of community-based solutions to help redundant historic buildings perform a new function, drive regeneration of the wider community and respect the character of our countryside, towns and cities.

The toolkit promotes and demonstrates cost effective routes and exemplary practices when disposing of and managing heritage sites. It also provides examples where problems have arisen in the disposal process in order to share tips on where lessons can be learned. It offers 14 logical steps to consider when disposing of a historic building and is accompanied by illustrated case studies. In addition the toolkit includes detailed information about maintaining buildings and carrying out periodic surveys, tips on involving the right people, cost comparisons, recommendations for partnership working, suggestions for funding opportunities for potential purchasers as well as detailing the wider social benefits of sustainable disposals.

Commenting on the toolkit, Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of The Prince’s Regeneration Trust, said:

‘This fantastic online resource can be seamlessly incorporated into the decision-making process of local authorities and other public bodies with large portfolios of historic buildings.

The Trust has years of award-winning professional experience in regeneration and we are experts in understanding the heritage value of sites that often have a unique and diverse set of needs and always attract a high level of public interest.

We understand that the issues around sustainable regeneration can appear daunting if you are approaching this work for the first time. The ability to ensure that every key issue is given due consideration is crucial when disposing of and managing these wonderful, historic buildings of such social and architectural importance. The toolkit provides the help needed in a way that is simple, straightforward and easy to understand.’

The toolkit is also accompanied by a research paper which sets out the rationale for the steps in the toolkit as well as explaining what the situation is for Buildings at Risk in different parts of the UK.

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