Conservation plans

What are Conservation Plans and Conservation Statements?

One of our best-known services, a conservation plan (also called a conservation management plan), is a document designed to help you understand the history and significance of your heritage asset. It also provides a set of policies to assist you in managing and making decisions about the future of your site. Conservation plans are particularly useful if your site contains multiple listed buildings.

A conservation statement is more concise than a conservation plan and is more open-ended regarding the future of your site. We can work with you to determine which option best suits your project and needs

What is in a Conservation Plan?

At a basic level a conservation plan will describe:

• Your heritage asset and its history.
• Why it is important by setting out its significance.
• Its current condition and future needs.
• How to care for the heritage asset in the future in the form of a useful set of policies.

It is important to remember that every heritage asset is unique, and every conservation plan we create is tailored to your specific site and needs.

Our conservation plans are richly illustrated and include diagrams showing historical phasing and areas of significance. We can also produce gazetteers, options appraisals, and consider feasibility as part of the project - every site requires a different approach.

We have produced a variety of conservation plans for a wide range of clients, including heritage bodies such as Historic Environment Scotland, Historic England, the Historic Environment Division in Northern Ireland, as well as the National Trust and the National Trust for Scotland. We have also worked with large estates in England and Scotland, developers, and private clients. Each conservation plan has been customised to their specific needs in terms of scale and detail.

For you, the conservation plan will provide a framework for planning conservation works, implementing changes, or, depending on the site, improving public access and engagement.

Why do you need a Conservation Plan?

If you’re planning on making changes to your site in the coming years, a conservation plan is useful as it will identify areas that are particularly special and should be preserved, areas that require conservation, and areas where there is potential for change. It can also form part of an application for Heritage Grants.

Conservation plans are also helpful if your site contains different types of heritage assets. For example, you may have a site with multiple buildings set within landscaped grounds, with potential for below-ground archaeology. Having one integrated plan ensures that all issues and overlapping priorities are considered collectively.

Ultimately, a conservation plan will consolidate your existing knowledge and management procedures for the entire site. It will then build on these and provide recommendations for moving forward. The plan aims to preserve what is most special about your site and identify opportunities for the future.

Thinking of commissioning a Conservation Plan?

We would love to work alongside you and develop a conservation plan which recognises the importance and needs of your heritage asset.

Even if you’re not sure if you need one or what type of document is right for you, reach out to us as we are always happy to provide you with advice and guidance

Contact us at admin@simpsonandbrown.co.uk to work with us or for more information

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