Context
The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) works to promote the conservation and sustainable re-use of historic buildings for the benefit of communities across the UK, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas. Much of our grant funded work takes place at the earliest stages of project development, where design ideas may not yet be fully formed, and some of our lending can also be at an early stage, such as acquisition funding. We therefore have a unique opportunity to help shape a strong design and conservation ethos in projects, while recognising that decision making powers on conservation, repair and overall building design lie elsewhere.
Where we offer capital grants, we review proposed designs as a core component of assessment, taking advice from consultants on, e.g., likely views of the planning authority and statutory consultees and the qualifications and experience of the architect or the heritage consultant. In all cases, however, we promote a conservation-led approach (outlined below) to historic buildings and will only fund projects that take such an approach in the adaptation and reuse of the structure. We do not require buildings to be listed to consider them for support, but we do expect applicants to explain why the building should be considered of significance (i.e. evidential, historical, aesthetic or communal value).
In the case of listed buildings, we expect statutory and planning authorities will provide advice on how approaches will meet national and local policy. Some larger scale capital funders will provide further guidance on their expectations regarding design and conservation and these should be considered, as appropriate. In the case of some unlisted buildings, however, the AHF may be the only heritage-related organisation involved with the project’s development.
To provide guidance to all applicants, we have developed some simple Design Principles to help guide the development of schemes. We propose the following will be published on our website and in grant and loan guidance documents.
AHF Design Principles
The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) supports a conservation-led approach to the adaptive reuse of historic buildings. We define a ‘conservation-led approach’ in the following ways:
- That formal proposals are based on an understanding of the significance of the building, its site, setting and previous uses. From RIBA 2 onwards, we expect most schemes to be guided by a statement of significance (particularly if a listed building), ideally prepared by a suitably skilled and experienced heritage professional.
- We expect a project to have a consultant team which includes a suitably skilled and experienced lead architect. The lead architect (from the beginning of RIBA Stage 2 onwards) to be registered with the Architect Registration Board and prefer that they be a Chartered Practice member of the RIBA, RIAS (or equivalent), ideally conservation accredited or, if that is not possible, with demonstrable conservation and heritage experience. Where it is not possible to use a conservation-accredited architect, the AHF will consider supporting projects led by architects experienced in the conservation and sensitive adaptation of historic buildings.
- Similarly, we strongly prefer other professionals involved in design (e.g. engineers and surveyors) to also have conservation experience in order to sustain the significance of the building.
- We expect that the statement of significance informs the design approach and in schemes where interventions are proposed, we expect to understand how the design approach has developed, and how the proposed interventions contribute to sustaining or enhancing the significance of the building.
- We encourage design and conservation proposals to aspire to a quality of design that is valued now and in the future, and that interventions are only those that are necessary to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the heritage asset.
- As soon as practical, we suggest teams should begin thinking about how to make the building energy efficient, seeking to balance the needs of energy use and addressing climate change alongside the assessment of signifiance.
- We expect that any proposed capital works, whether funded by us or not, would be undertaken by people with appropriate experience of working on heritage projects and using appropriate methods and materials.
For further advice and guidance on caring for historic places, including how to find the right professional help or for best practice on procurement, please visit the website of your national statutory body. For example, you may find the following sources of guidance helpful:
England: Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance
Northern Ireland: Conservation Principles
Scotland: Managing Change in the Historic Environment: Use and Adaptation of Listed Buildings