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The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and English Heritage yesterday launched its first joint 'How to' Guide outlining a new development-led approach to masterplanning, which advocates assessing the historic character of a site right at the earliest stages of redevelopment. This is set to transform the way sites are redeveloped.

The Guide, 'Capitalising on the inherited landscape – an introduction to historic characterisation for masterplanning' is the product of an innovative joint pilot project between the two agencies. This took the established conservation-led Historic Characterisation approach – encouraging the use of specific techniques to identify the distinctive characteristics of a site in order to explain an inherited sense of place and identity – as a starting point - and tested its value at different stages of the development process.

The pilot focused on three very different sites earmarked for future redevelopment under the HCA’s Hospital Sites portfolio: the former Graylingwell Hospital in Chichester, Hanham Hall near Bristol, and Prudhoe in the Tyne Valley. The sites were all of contrasting scale and context, and the Historic Characterisation methodology used was adapted in each case.

The main key finding indicates that Historic Characterisation is of greatest benefit when carried out in advance of detailed masterplanning so it can fully influence this process. In doing so, the historic environment informs future development plans, which can benefit from capitalising on the inherited historic landscape. The Guide also offers a way to contribute to UK implementation of the Council of Europe's 'European Landscape Convention', which aims to shape and enhance future landscape and place in town as well as in country.

Robert Napier, Chairman of the HCA, said: “This important collaboration between the HCA and English Heritage makes a major contribution to how we masterplan and regenerate strategic sites; assisting us in our objective of helping deliver sustainable communities across England.

We anticipate that this development-led approach of undertaking historic characterisation prior to masterplanning will pave the way for widespread use across not only the HCA portfolio, but with our Single Conversation partners, including local authorities, across the wider planning sector. This, we hope, will transform the way that historic sites are redeveloped.”

The study also demonstrated that Historic Characterisation initiated before masterplanning:

• creates a strategic overview of a potential regeneration site that will act as a stepping stone to better development.
• guides further research and later stages of design and improve the quality of planning and place-making.
• helps minimise risks and delays to the development process.

These and other benefits identified by this development-led approach, together with lessons learned from the collaboration, are set out in the Guide.

Baroness Andrews, Chair of English Heritage, said: “It is extremely encouraging that organisations such as the HCA are making the link between heritage and regeneration when considering sites for redevelopment. We are delighted to have been working with the HCA, sharing our mutual skills and experiences in shaping better places for people to live and work.”

Download ‘Capitalising on the inherited landscape – an introduction to historic characterisation for masterplanning’ - PDF (2.38 MB)

For further details please contact Helen Stoddart in the HCA press office on 020 7881 1615 / helen.stoddart@hca.gsx.gov.uk , or Ellie Hughes, English Heritage Corporate Communications, on 020 7973 3250 ellie.hughes@english-heritage.org.uk.

Notes to Editors:

1. “Capitalising on the historic landscape – an introduction to historic characterisation for masterplanning’’ shows why Historic Characterisation should be used to inform masterplanning; outlines how it fits with wider policy and guidance; summarises the 3 pilot studies, and gives an outline of the benefits of the Historic Characterisation approach.

The pilot found that the Historic Characterisation approach:

• Establishes a comprehensive, contextual understanding of a site in relation to its surroundings, defining and explaining an inherited sense of place and identity;
• Is an excellent tool for defining, accessing and explaining inherited sense of place and identity;
• Works across site ownership boundaries and is valuable for long term strategic and legacy planning in providing recommendations for future site layouts and designs that grow from existing character;
  
• Has an important role to play as part of identifying risks and issues which can create confidence for financial investment in a site, and supplies a framework for engaging with local communities and other stakeholders; and
• Can be applied to a great variety of sites whatever the scale or context.

2. Developed 15 years ago by English Heritage, Historic Characterisation was originally intended to assess the archaeological qualities of a site, in order to assist local authorities, owners and developers with the management of change in the historic environment. Over time, this developed to cover the wider historical environment, such as ornamental landscapes and other man made features such as hedges and managed woodland. It’s the first time that the approach has been used in the earliest stages of site redevelopment.

Historic Characterisation advocates the use of analytical and research techniques which identify the important and distinctive characteristics of a site, regardless of its age, to define and explain an inherited sense of place and identity. The approach uses on-site topographic and archaeological surveys, combined with analysis of historic documents such as maps, plans and photographs, and records of field boundaries, path systems and settlement patterns.

Working back from the present use of the site to the fields beneath, the information enables a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of a site. This in turn can inform and transform the masterplanning process and impact positively on creating new places compatible with inherited spaces right from the earliest stages.

3. About the Homes and Communities Agency
The HCA is the single, national housing and regeneration agency for England. We bring together English Partnerships, investment functions of the Housing Corporation, and the Academy for Sustainable Communities, with major delivery programmes of Communities and Local Government.

Our role is to create opportunity for people to live in high quality, sustainable places. We provide funding for affordable housing, bring land back into productive use and improve quality of life by raising standards for the physical and social environment.

The HCA estate includes**:
14 scheduled ancient monuments;
54 listed entries – all at Grade II apart from two listed at Grade II* and the Grade I Atlantic Pavilion Liverpool Albert Dock which the HCA leases;
3 heritage assets designated as At Risk by English Heritage when they were acquired;
Holdings in 4 World Heritage Sites;
6 registered historic Parks and Gardens.

**From April 2007-March 2009

4. The HCA’s Hospital Sites Programme is a nationwide programme to bring a portfolio of 96 former hospital sites back into productive use. The Programme was initiated through a landmark transfer of sites between NHS Estates and the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to HCA predecessor, English Partnerships, in April 2005. A number of sites in the Programme contain buildings or landscapes of historic significance, and the HCA is working closely with English Heritage to ensure their preservation

5. About English Heritage

English Heritage is the leading Government Agency for the sustainable management, use and enjoyment of the Historic Environment in England. We promote understanding of how the diverse legacy of the past contributes so much to the essential character of everyday landscapes. For the future, we can advise designers, developers, local authorities and communities on how the inherited landscape can continue to shape vibrant places.

More information at www.english-heritage.org.uk.