This conference looks at the various challenges facing those with a professional or personal interest in bringing old buildings back to life. It begins with a survey of government policy towards the built heritage, which sees funding increasingly directed away from pure conservation and towards economic regeneration. These follow perspectives from some of the key partners the local authority, the developer and the regeneration partnership and from three of the key professional fields involved the planner, the architect and the conservator. The day is then completed by several fascinating case studies, ranging from successful refurbishment of single buildings to town centre strategy, for heritage and character areas.