Ian Dungavell has begun a new study on conservation plans, trying to capture the perspectives of those people who have commissioned them, those who write them, and those who use them either as property managers and curators or as regulators and grant givers. He says: “It is now over ten years since conservation plans have been required by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and they are also used more widely as a management tool. However, there has been no research to establish if they are working as intended, even though millions of pounds is spent on work they justify. Experience has also shown that it is not easy to commission or produce a good plan, it can be difficult to find the right people to do the work and, in practice, some plans have just gathered dust.”
The project is limited to conservation plans for the built heritage in England.
Ian Dungavell is also director of the Victorian Society, while the research is being conducted independently, and the results will be published. Those who help in the study will receive a summary of the findings. Practitioners, contributors and anyone with an interest in their operation are encouraged to complete a short online survey or contact Ian to discuss conservation plans further.
The surveys will be online from Monday 2 November until Monday 30 November 2009 at www.conservationplans.org.uk. telephone
020 3006 2434 anytime.
