An alliance of Northern Ireland’s heritage organisations, Heritage Delivers believes that ‘protecting and investing in our heritage is essential to creating a better future… Our heritage supports our prosperity, strengthens our society, and shapes our character.’
Heritage Delivers writes:
Our heritage is our authentic voice and distinctive character. It is the basis for our confidence, our prosperity, and our health. Heritage creates value through tourism, but that’s only its most obvious benefit. Nurturing a living past is essential to health and wellbeing, cultural and economic regeneration, and a shared sense of optimism.
Supporting our prosperity
When we invest in heritage we support business growth, increase tourism, attract new business and create jobs. UK studies show that the historic environment offers a high return on investment.
Each £1 invested generates up to £1.60 of extra economic activity over ten years. Heritage visitors stay longer, spend more per day and have a significantly greater economic impact.
Promoting Tourism
When we invest in heritage we support business growth, increase tourism, attract new business and create jobs. UK studies show that the historic environment offers a high return on investment. Each £1 invested generates up to £1.60 of extra economic activity over ten years. Heritage visitors stay longer, spend more per day and have a significantly greater economic impact.
New Life for old buildings
Repurposing old buildings is the cornerstone of sustainable development because it creates more jobs and uses fewer resources than fresh construction. Reuse is one of the best ways to engage the private sector in heritage preservation. Companies recognise the benefits of regenerating local areas and consumers seek brands that stress their authentic roots. The process of using old buildings for new purposes is called ‘adaptive reuse’.
Valuing Authenticity
We value authentic places because they remind us of how our world is shaped by history and people, giving us a sense of our roots and our place in the world. They are indispensable to a cohesive, prosperous and progressive society. Heritage buildings derive their authenticity from their intimate connection to a community’s development. Old farmhouses recall our agrarian past. Historic warehouses, factories and terraces chronicle our industrial development. These buildings tell the story of how we came to be who we are and they imbue us with the confidence to take charge of our future.
Attracting investment
Exploiting a region’s cultural cachet is essential to attracting outside investment. All else being equal, cities compete on culture. The historic environment plays a decisive role in drawing creative people and the firms that need them. Heritage buildings not only attract large businesses, but also start-ups for a variety of reasons.
