This year’s event homes in on some of the key issues – The first session endeavours to see how the impasse between the heritage lobby and those trusted with powering economic development can be resolved. This has perhaps been most evident in London as the new Mayor takes charge. The second session of the event accordingly looks at how enterprising developers and others can be assisted by the statutory authorities to achieve even their most ambitious aspirations for old buildings.

New build is often cheaper than re-use, and there are still very few incentives to think otherwise. The third session of the conference therefore meets requests from last year’s delegates for a fuller discussion of funding issues. A wide-ranging set of papers encompasses commercial development, visitor attractions, the heritage quarter concept, and community-led projects.