The AHF has partnered with the Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities (DfC) and Ruth Flood Associates to examine the potential for heritage-enabled regeneration to drive a new approach to revitalising Northern Ireland’s midsized towns (5,000 to 18,000 population). Drawing on learnings from other parts of the UK, the Republic of Ireland and abroad, the research has indicated significant potential for regenerating Northern Ireland’s midsized towns through the adaptation, reimagination and locally driven reuse of historic buildings. The report – available as both an Executive Summary and Full Report – explains both the barriers that are currently inhibiting the potential for heritage-enabled regeneration and also recommendations for how these may be overcome.
The AHF and DfC already collaborate on a Northern Ireland place-based heritage regeneration programme targeting rural communities through the Village Catalyst scheme, which is also supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Housing Executive NI. This new report demonstrates the potential for expanding the local economic benefits and community wealth-building that historic building regeneration brings to midsized towns.
For more information, please read:
Heritage Enabled Regeneration Report 27 June 2022 (communities-ni.gov.uk)
Heritage Enabled Regeneration Report Executive Summary (communities-ni.gov.uk)
