Heritage Works BPT: working with local authorities to turn heritage liabilities into assets...

Heritage Works BPT: working with local authorities to turn heritage liabilities into assets

Liverpool Vision 09 December 2009

Heritage Works BPT: working with local authorities to turn heritage liabilities into assets

Liverpool Vision 09 December 2009

How do you turn this……

Beith, North Ayrshire 1997

….into this?…..

Beith, North Ayrshire 2004

And this……

Half Moon & Star, Ipswich 1996

….into this?…..

Half Moon & Star, Ipswich 1999

Building Preservation Trusts

• Charitable property developers• Motivated by heritage rather than profit• Can access grants to bridge the

‘conservation deficit’, especially Lottery & Trust funds

• Traditionally tackle historic buildings at risk that are ‘beyond market forces’

• Often described as ‘developers of last resort’

Revolving fund BPTs

• Generally dispose of assets on completion• Roll surpluses forward to next project• Can retain buildings and secure rent to

provide a revenue stream• Need to make a surplus to cover

operational costs between projects• Increasingly developing ‘services’ to reduce

grant dependency

AncoatsBuildings Preservation Trust

Established 1995…..

Ancoats, Manchester

Rescuing ruins….

St Peter’s, Ancoats, Manchester: 1996

...creating assets....

St Peter’s, Ancoats, Manchester: 2006

Murrays’ Mills – early 19th century

Murrays’ Mills

Murrays’ Mills

Courtyard view in 1995

Murrays’ Mills

Typical interior – (Old Mill building)

Structure & fabric: condition issues (1)

Structure & fabric: condition issues (2)

Murrays’ Mills on site in 2005 (1)

Murrays’ Mills on site in 2005 (2)

Murrays’ Mills on site in 2005 (3)

Murrays’ Mills in 2006

Plans for the future

Images supplied by Inpartnership Ltd

Engaging with the community

Skills, Schools & Stories (1)

Skills, Schools & Stories (2)

Skills, Schools & Stories (3)

All Work and No Play?

An Ancoats Scrapbook, published June 2007

Research & interpretation

Heritage WorksBuildings Preservation Trust

Re-launched January 2007…..

Making heritage work …

physically

socially

economically

environmentally

Heritage Works’ priorities

• Projects anywhere in England & Wales!• Focus on projects within 50 miles of

Manchester• Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside,

Staffordshire (Stoke), Yorkshire (Sheffield & Leeds)

• Conservation, regeneration, education……• Projects with potential to contribute to the

Trust’s long-term sustainability

Causey Hall, Halifax

Former Parish School, built 1856

Causey Hall, Halifax

Typical debris of recent use & signs of lack of maintenance

Causey Hall, Halifax

‘Text book’ damp penetration and dry rot

Causey Hall, Halifax

THI and SRB-funded emergency works, Spring 2008

6-8 King Cross Street, Halifax

Yorkshire Forward’s Hopwood Lane

Gateway

6-8 King Cross Street, Halifax

THI-funded emergency & conservation works

Burleigh Pottery, Burslem, Stoke

England’s last Victorian working pottery

Burleigh Pottery

Vacant space in poor condition

Burleigh Pottery

Site plan showing potential vacant space for new uses

Transhipment Warehouse, Derbyshire

Whaley Bridge Transhipment Warehouse: 1801 - 1837

Transhipment Warehouse, Derbyshire

Whaley Bridge Transhipment Warehouse: 1801 - 1837

Transhipment Warehouse, Derbyshire

Whaley Bridge Transhipment Warehouse: 1801 - 1837

Transhipment Warehouse, Derbyshire

Community consultation

Transhipment Warehouse, Derbyshire

Community consultation

Transhipment Warehouse, Derbyshire

Initial ideas for building uses

Transhipment Warehouse, Derbyshire

Initial sketch schemes

Transhipment Warehouse, Derbyshire

Further consultation at Whaley Water Weekend

Transhipment Warehouse, Derbyshire

Preferred option

Transhipment Warehouse, Derbyshire

• Heritage Works to buy long lease of site for £1• HWBPT to undertake repair works as developer

– draw down funding & ‘deliver’ project• Possible private sector partner in JV for new

building• Development Trust Association to take 25 year

lease of Warehouse & run programme of events

• Heritage Works to be landlord for commercial space

So what about Merseyside?

Buildings at Risk

English Heritage BAR study

• EH capacity building grant: phase 1 £10,500• Reviewed 70 BARs in Greater Manchester,

Cheshire & Merseyside (excluding ruins & monuments)

• Long-listed 12 buildings for further appraisal• EH in-principle grant of £10k for each of five

options appraisals studies• Possible candidates in Merseyside……

English Heritage BAR study

Laundry Cottage, Croxteth Park

Sugar Silo, Regent Road

Options appraisal (1): Wellington Rooms

Options appraisal(2): Durning Rd Fire Stn

Options appraisal(3): Everton Library

Challenges and opportunities (1)

• Lottery funds are being diverted to fund the London Olympic games

• Heritage is not a government priority; capital grants (and funds for studies) are hard to secure

• ‘Credit crunch’ & economic recession means increased need for BPTs to undertake projects

• Local Authorities can’t assume sales receipts; disposal of historic buildings on the open market may not be an option

• Reduced interest in ‘enabling development’

Challenges and opportunities (2)

• Core funding is not available to support Trusts in between projects : we have to be income-generating and self-sustaining

• BPTs can offer a range of services to local authorities, for fees or on a ‘retainer’

• Procurement rules can present a challenge• Track record of commissions and project

delivery• Where there’s a will, there’s a way

Use us…..Or lose us….!

We make heritage work …

Heritage Works Buildings Preservation Trust Ltd1st floor, 61 Bloom StreetManchester, M1 3LY

Telephone: 0161 237 3210 Fax: 0161 236 8581E-mail: director@heritageworks.co.uk

www.heritageworks.co.uk

Thank you!