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Want to know how to bring a historic building back into use? Don't miss Recycling Historic Buildings: Empowering Local Authorities and Communities 
Royal Visit
Photo: Bob Collier
Read more about the Prince's visit on our website.
Fundraising & InitiativesHello from our new Fundraising Manager, Faye Clews. I joined the team in December and during my first couple of months I have been amazed at the scope of the Trust and the amount of projects undertaken despite limited resources. The Trust receives more requests from community groups than it is able to support and relies on donations and voluntary contributions to continue its work, and as such has achieved a remarkable amount across the UK. My first priority is to ensure that the impact and reach of this vital work is articulated effectively, so that our role as adviser, facilitator, enabler, capacity builder, and general mine of information is more clearly understood. I am greatly looking forward to working here and would be delighted to hear from anyone who may feel they can support our work. 020 7462 6451 or email me at faye.clews@princes-regeneration.org |
About UsAppointment in Northern Ireland Completes the TeamWith the appointment of Nick Brown, Projects Advisor based in Northern Ireland, we now have Advisors based in each of the four parts of the UK. Nick is a conservation architect and has worked on several key heritage regeneration projects in Belfast and managed the Walled City THI in Derry. The work of the Trust is expanding all the time and since our last newsletter we are working with more community groups, developers and local authorities than ever to help save some of the UK's most precious historic assets. To help us do all the work, we have welcomed no less than five new colleagues. Our warm welcome extends to Ian Marcus who joined the Trust as Chairman in August last year. Ian is Chairman of European Real Estate Investment Banking at Credit Suisse and the Trust has already seen enormous benefit from his extensive experience in the financial and property sectors. Nicola Flack is doing a heroic job running the office and supporting our extremely busy Chief Executive. Sarah Fisher joined us on secondment from DEFRA as Education and Policy Development Manager and amongst many other things is helping the Trust become greener in its day to day activities. Faye Clews is our new part-time Fundraising Manager. (For more information, see the Fundraising & Initiatives section.) Find out more about the team on the PRT website. Hilary WeirIt was with shock and great sadness that we learned of the sudden and premature death on 2nd November of Hilary Weir. Hilary has been with the Trust since its inception and latterly served on our Advisory Group panel. A tribute to Hilary from our president, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, was read by our Chief Executive Ros Kerslake at a conference on 13th November 2008 in Gorton, Manchester and we also have a tribute to Hilary on our website. |
Our president, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, recently paid a visit to two of our most successful projects; Sowerby Bridge Wharf in West Yorkshire, and Eastbrook Hall in Bradford. In the weeks preceding the visit there was an enormous amount of excitement and activity in preparation amongst the local communities and key stakeholders.
At Sowerby Bridge, our Projects Director, Fred Taggart, has been working since 1996 with the community to regenerate two listed warehouses. We are delighted to see that the area has been transformed from a place of dereliction and decay to a hub of social and economic enterprise. His Royal Highness received a warm reception from the people of Sowerby Bridge and we would like to thank all those who worked so hard to make the visit a success.
Later on the same day, His Royal Highness arrived to open the newly completed Eastbrook Hall in Bradford. The building is a landmark in the community but was threatened with demolition when it was left derelict and roofless by a fire in 1996. The Trust, represented by our projects consultant Kit Martin, has worked with partners Aldersgate Estates, Bradford Centre Regeneration, English Partnerships, Bradford City Council, Regen 2000, and Yorkshire Forward.
We are delighted that the three-year, £12 million, mixed-use project to restore the building to its former glory is now finished. Among the people who greeted His Royal Highness was Rev. Dr. William Davies, former Superintendent Minister of Eastbrook Hall, who said "To see the building magnificently restored, its dome replaced, providing affordable housing for the community, that to me is wonderful".
Highest Profile Project Yet for Trust in Northern Ireland
In November, The Prince's Regeneration Trust, in association with the Trevor Osborne Property Group, was appointed by Armagh City and District Council to bring forward proposals to regenerate Armagh Gaol, a B* listed building, dating from 1780. Located close to the centre of Armagh the redundant gaol is presently on the Buildings and Heritage at Risk Register Northern Ireland and featured on the BBC 'Restoration' series. The proposals, which are at an early stage, are for a mixed-use development comprising a 'boutique' hotel, art gallery, apartments, restaurants, retail, open-air performance space and heritage centre. A community planning event is being arranged for later this year where representatives from the community, local business, heritage organisations and statutory bodies will meet to develop a detailed strategy for the regeneration of the gaol.
Planning Day Marks New Future for Worksop Priory Gatehouse
In November last year, those with a keen interest and concern for the Grade I listed medieval gatehouse in Worksop gathered to attend a Planning Day to discuss its potential for a bright future. The Prince's Regeneration Trust organised the event, which involved a brainstorming session and SWOT analysis, and many valuable ideas emerged as to how to turn this unused architectural gem into something the community can use and be proud of. Next steps were agreed, including commissioning a condition survey to fully understand the structure and significance of the building. Our Projects Advisor, Edward Holland, has written the brief that the local trust will take forward. In view of the national importance of the gatehouse, English Heritage has agreed to meet a large proportion of the cost of this survey.
We are delighted that proposals for the regeneration scheme for The Bass Maltings in Sleaford, have been finalised, and planning and listed building consent applications submitted by the site's developers, Gladedale Special Projects Ltd. The Trust has advised Gladedale on preparing a scheme that would both protect the essential historic character of the Grade II* Maltings and accommodate a vibrant mix of new uses for the site.
Heritage Lottery Boost for Cardigan Castle
Just before Christmas we had some excellent news from Wales and a real morale boost for the local Cadwgan Building Preservation Trust. The Heritage Lottery Fund has given the green light to Cadwgan, in partnership with Ceredigion County Council to work up plans to restore Cardigan Castle, the birthplace of the national eisteddfod. The Prince's Regeneration Trust adopted the project in 2005 for technical support and advice and held a Planning Day attended by around 40 representatives of the community, local businesses, heritage organisations and public bodies to agree the development proposals. A broad strategy was agreed that became the basis of the successful Lottery bid. The plan is to restore the dilapidated castle site and turn it into a centre for Welsh language learning, with public gardens, a heritage centre, a restaurant and self-catering tourism accommodation.
Plans are progressing for the Dreamland Cinema (listed Grade II*) and amusement park in Margate, which contains the oldest remaining roller coaster in the UK and is listed Grade II. The Prince's Regeneration Trust is working as advisor to a client group that includes the site owners, Margate Renewal Partnership and the Dreamland Trust. We are currently writing the conservation statement which is vital to understanding the historic and architectural importance of the structures and will inform future new uses. Proposals involve reopening the amusement park which will feature historic rides from around the world.
The wonderful collection of vernacular farm buildings scattered across the Cambrian Mountains in central Wales are a vital component of the rural distinctiveness of the area. Many of these beautiful and simple buildings are at risk of becoming redundant and derelict. The Prince's Regeneration Trust is working on the Cambrian Mountains Initiative to consider how best to preserve this special character. The first step is to record and understand these structures which will enable an informed evaluation of the best means of adaptive re-use. Thanks to a grant from Cadw we are able to carry out our proposal and appoint a consultant to survey a pilot area.
The Cleveland Pools Trust, Trevor Osborne Property Group and the Prince's Regeneration Trust have formed the Cleveland Pools Alliance to develop proposals for the restoration of the late Georgian baths both as a community facility and tourist attraction. Cleveland Pools is the oldest surviving public open-air swimming pool in Britain, dating from 1815 and is located adjacent to the River Avon within the World Heritage Site. The Pools, listed Grade II*, closed in 1984 and the site has since been added to the Buildings at Risk Register. The Cleveland Pools Alliance is negotiating lease agreements with the owners of the Pools, Bath and North East Somerset District Council and investigating funding options. Anyone interested in helping support the project locally, please get in touch.
