An alleyway lined with planters and an arched metal and coloured glass pergola.
Cae Glas Park Alleyway, part of the Oswestry High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme led by Shropshire Council, following works to revamp the alleyway into a through route that communities now feel safe in, want to use, and maintain © Graeme Mitchell
Cae Glas Park Alleyway, part of the Oswestry High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme led by Shropshire Council, following works to revamp the alleyway into a through route that communities now feel safe in, want to use, and maintain © Graeme Mitchell

Regeneration Approach and Vision

Heritage led regeneration can deliver a diverse range of economic, social and environmental benefits, but is it right for your scheme? Consider what it can offer as you develop an approach and vision for the place you are setting out to revitalise. 

On this page
  1. What could heritage do for your regeneration project?
  2. Heritage led regeneration
  3. A strategic approach
  4. Top tips for shaping your project
  5. More resources

What could heritage do for your regeneration project?

While deliberating which areas to revitalise and what approach to take for your regeneration project, use our evidence base and case studies to inform and inspire your research and decisions.

Economic, social and environmental impacts

Our Heritage Counts research series collects the best available evidence to support advocacy for the contribution heritage can make in regeneration initiatives. Below is a selection of research which can help to shape your plans and support a business case for heritage-led regeneration in your area. 

  • Place Development

    Investing in heritage is not just an investment in heritage but part of a strategic move that can directly influence local economic outcomes.

  • Pride in Place

    Recent evidence that shows that heritage is an important source of pride for communities by reflecting the unique histories of places.

  • Connecting to Place

    This article explores the role of heritage in enabling and strengthening the bonds between people and places.

  • Public Attitudes

    A majority of adults across England visit heritage regularly, and evidence shows that people care about heritage and want to see it protected.

  • Maintenance and Repair for a Low Carbon Future

    Effective ‘maintenance and repair’ practices can yield significant energy savings. This article highlights some of the evidence to support this.

Case studies

Looking for inspiration? Explore examples of how heritage and culture have worked as a catalyst for regeneration of place. 

Heritage led regeneration

A heritage led regeneration scheme will aim to harness the potential of heritage assets and local character to contribute to wider regeneration of an area.  

The focus might be a conservation area, one or more listed buildings, other designated heritage assets, or non-designated heritage assets such as those included on a local list. It may also seek to preserve and promote intangible cultural heritage. Read the good practice guidance on intangible cultural heritage from National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Successful regeneration of a place will not simply focus on the repair of individual buildings, but look at changes to the place as a whole and how the different heritage assets contribute to local character.

Heritage projects often come with inherent challenges, but these should not deter you from pursuing them. Despite their complexities, heritage renovations can be undertaken cost-effectively with careful planning and resource allocation.

Lead partner Hastings High Street Heritage Action Zone

Historic England's support

Historic England can support you in your place-making and regeneration, and provide expert guidance on preserving and enhancing the historic character of heritage assets. 

Integrating heritage conservation into your regeneration plans means using conservative repairs and putting together well-informed proposals that protect the historic character and integrity of the buildings, heritage assets and areas in which they sit. Make sure that your team, partners, contractors, property owners, developers and stakeholders are aware of the conservation approach from the start. 

Our free e-learning course provides a useful introduction for your team and partners: 

  • Heritage in Planning: Essentials

    For non-heritage or early careers heritage officers in local authorities whose activities advice and decision making affects the historic environment.

A strategic approach

Regeneration schemes depend on strong partnerships and engagement with the local community, right from the start.

Typically, local authorities form the core of these partnerships because they have the statutory instruments at their fingertips as well as responsibility for developing public spaces and services, and access to some funding sources.  

Engage early with community to find out what local people care about and ensure that their needs shape your regeneration plans.  

You will need to work with local partners to develop a shared vision. While trying to find something that partners can all sign up to, beware the pitfall of creating a vision that is too broad and bland. The vision needs to be specific to the place and what you, your partners and community want for it.  

When developing your strategy, consider the sustainability of your regeneration scheme and set clear, realistic and measurable objectives. These are a key foundation to any project. You will need to consider how you will measure progress against them, so that you can evaluate the success of the scheme and communicate progress to stakeholders. Carefully thinking through the benefits and objectives will be key to successful business cases and funding applications. 

Top tips for shaping your project

  • Heritage led regeneration is one element, but a full place management approach must be woven in to succeed in achieving sustainable regeneration. 
  • Building strong relationships with local shopkeepers and businesses and the local community right from the start is essential to them understanding the wider aims and buying into the concept of heritage led regeneration. 
  • People often value heritage indirectly because they care about where they live. Engaging local people in the restoration of their town can foster pride and strong community support. 
  • Set out a clear vision and strategy from the start, with realistic objectives. It is better to be realistic and overachieve.  

These tips were gathered from Historic England's partners who delivered regeneration projects during the High Streets Heritage Action Zones programme.

More resources

Also of interest

Heritage Led Regeneration Toolkit
High Street Regeneration Case Studies
The Impact of Heritage Action Zones across England