Capturing a Place’s Character Webinar-Workshops

This webinar-workshop will explore why defining local character matters, and will introduce the Toolkit that the Historic Towns and Villages Forum has been developing as part of a National Lottery Heritage Fund project – for delegates to use.

The proposals in the 2020 Planning White Paper point to far greater emphasis on gathering evidence about places much earlier in the Local Plan process. In order for the character and nature of places to be properly taken into account and the setting and place of non-designated heritage assets to be captured, there is a role for communities, civic and amenity groups, and local parish and town councils to support heritage officers. Similarly many communities are involved in neighbourhood planning, and are seeking to express what development being ‘in keeping’ actually means. Preparing a local character assessment and design codes are an essential way of conveying this to future decision-makers.

The first workshop – on December 17th 2020 and repeated on 7th January 2021 – will look at how character assessments can be used, and the ‘My Town Heritage Explorers’ Toolkit itself.

Delegates from New Towns can test the ‘New Towns Heritage Explorers’ Toolkit devised initially for Milton Keynes with Milton Keynes Council and Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre.

Speakers:

• Welcome and Introduction, Louise Thomas, Director, HTVF
• Character: its uses and a way to find and define it with the local community, Louise Dandy, Historic Environment and Urban Design Team Leader, Winchester City Council
• New Town Heritage Explorers: The Toolkit, Louise Thomas

With thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Milton Keynes Council

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