Blog- 23rd May, 2025, Trowers and Hamlins, Corporate Partner

Heritage at the heart of community development

I have just come back from the UKREiiF real estate conference - one of the biggest gatherings of the built environment community in the UK with over 16,000 delegates. Lots of encouraging discussion about regeneration and the role of the public sector. By far, one of the most entertaining and thought-provoking sessions was hosted by English Heritage, the Arts Council, the Chief Planner, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and heritage assets holders. Set in the fabulous City Varieties Music Hall they all talked passionately about the importance of heritage buildings in the context of societal change and regeneration schemes.

There is a significant body of evidence that communities need and appreciate the culture and societal cohesion that heritage buildings bring. Apparently, there is also a shifting trend for developers too to also see the value and focus on the restoration of heritage buildings. If that's the case, how do we ensure positive engagement in their use? How do we see their benefit and not their perceived financial burden? How do we prevent those cherished buildings being an afterthought and only picked up as part of section 106 arrangements? How do we prevent them being dropped as part of the same schemes on grounds of viability?

Overwhelmingly, the council colleagues in the room and supported by developers said that heritage assets more widely being seen as valued by the community and part of the creation or preservation of community identity. Buildings become community hubs, spaces for creative industries, alternative residential offerings. This means that if we want heritage buildings to be resurrected, cared for, used, appreciated, then we need to start asking for it as part of the strategic objectives linked to new development schemes. If councils do not ask for developers to include this restoration, it is off the table before the scheme has begun. There is a very large proportion of the creative sector that embed themselves in heritage buildings. These organisations can significantly contribute to the health and welfare of a new area. Give purpose and focus to an area. If we are talking about regeneration in its purest sense, that has to include societal, infrastructural, and financial resurrection not just building new buildings. All of the successful regeneration schemes I have been involved in in recent years have culture and community at their heart because that is what drives and creates society.

Making sure we know what land is for and not just what it's worth drives good regeneration. Bringing back historic buildings, unused spaces above the high street, former workshops and markets can bring much needed identity to schemes. The public sector can play an excellent role in being the custodians of past, present and future.

Chris Plumley is a real estate partner at Trowers and Hamlins specialising in public sector regeneration projects.