The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has released its latest biennial report on heritage ‘Heritage Assets Biennial Report: April 2011 – March 2013’, which includes details on how the Agency will use heritage assets to support jobs and communities.
The HCA writes:
The HCA, in company with many other government departments and agencies in England, are collectively custodians for the nation of over 1,100 listed buildings of special architectural or historic interest, and over 1,500 scheduled ancient monuments. Government is committed to ensuring that this historic estate is treated in an exemplary fashion, and has established the Government Historic Estates Unit (GHEU), hosted by English Heritage as the central professional organisation to advise government departments and agencies on all aspects of managing heritage assets – from designation to disposal.
The GHEU set standards and monitors performance through their Biennial Conservation Report (BCR) to Government on the condition and curatorship of its historic estate. The BCR is published by English Heritage and covers England only. The BCR measures progress by each agency and department in meeting heritage management targets, records achievements and successful conservation projects and includes information about every building at risk on the government estate. All Government departments and agencies are in turn responsible for compiling their own report on how they are meeting the Government’s standards.
The reporting process and standards of management for the Government’s historic estate are set out in a document called The Protocol for the Care of the Government Historic Estate (Department for Culture Media and Sport, English Heritage and the Office of Government Commerce(updated) 2009). The adoption of the DCMS Protocol became mandatory under Common Minimum Standards for the Procurement of Built Environments in the Public Sector (Office of Government Commerce 2005).
The Protocol requires that the HCA:
- Nominate a conservation officer;
- Use consultants and contractors with recognised heritage accreditation or appropriate expertise;
- Commission Quadrennial Inspections;
- Develop site-specific management guidance;
- Implement a planned programme of repairs and maintenance;
- Protect buildings at risk;
- Safeguard historic buildings that are in course of disposal;
- Comply with statutory notification procedures;
- Ensure that the design quality of any new work is sensitive to and complimentary to the historic environment; and
- Prepare biennial conservation reports (This document forms the HCA’s Heritage Assets Biennial Conservation Report as required by the Protocol).
This report sets out how the HCA will comply with the relevant regulations and duties assigned to the Agency, and where we go beyond this, using our programmes and
investment and enabling role to support the protection, enhancement and ongoing use of heritage assets in the provision of jobs and homes.
To see the full report and learn more about the heritage work of the HCA, please see: LINK
