Historic Buildings 2009 Conference includes legislation update, design solutions and practical know-how for architects working on historic projects. The event aims to provide architects with the technical understanding you need when working on an existing building project.

Attend to:
- Get in-depth insight into the Heritage Protection Bill and how it affects you
- Gain inspiration for modern interventions and changing the use of a building
- Hear solutions for maximizing energy efficiency
- Find out about funding
- Improve your understanding of how to work effectively with Conservation Officers

Programme
08:30: Registration, refreshments and networking
09:20: Opening address from the Chair
09:30: Understanding the impact of the Heritage Protection Bill on historic buildings
- What is the Heritage Bill trying to achieve?
- What will architects need to do when applying to make changes to a building?
- How will the single system for national registration of terrestrial heritage assets work?
- How is the consent process changing?
- What role will local authorities have in implementing the changes?
- When will the changes come into force?
"English Heritage" Steven Bee (Director of Planning and Development)

10:00: Applying building regulations to existing buildings
- Balancing conservation and the need to upgrade
- Ensuring fire regulations are met
- Using new materials to meet fire regulations
- Accessibility: Clarifying DDA regulations for historic buildings
- How can architects ensure buildings are accessible and fire safe while retaining the building fabric?

10:30: Question and answer session
10:45: Morning refreshments and networking

11:15: Maximising energy efficiency in historic buildings: Challenges and solutions
- Grasping the importance of maximising energy efficiency in historic buildings
- Understanding each building individually in order to salvage or reinstate inherently sustainable features and produce a tailored strategy to raise energy efficiency
- Improving awareness of the nature of historic building fabric and the use of low-key interventions where appropriate
- Coping with the pace of change, with regulations often behind the technology
- Part L and other regulations: help or hindrance to improved energy efficiency?
William Filmer-Sankey (Senior Director, Alan Baxter & Associates)

11:45: Applying for funding
- What sources of funding are available for historic building refurbishment?
- What do architects need to be aware of regarding funding?
- How do architects and clients apply for funding?

12:15: Question and answer session
12:30: Lunch

13:30: Working with Conservation Officers
- What architects should tell their conservation officer about their project
- Conservation areas: Coping with the various permutations of regulations for conservation areas
- Practical guidance on how to work effectively with conservation officers
Christine Kerrin (Team Leader Design and Conservation, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council) 

14:00: Question and answer session
14:05: Question Time: Listing - is it a constraint or an opportunity?
An interactive session for you to discuss and debate the issues surrounding listed buildings. Prepare your questions for the panel so you can come away with ideas and inspiration for your projects.
Topics will include:
- Can listing help ensure a building stays in use?
- Will the proposed new legislation on listed buildings help or hinder design?
- Does listing a building make it more difficult to make it accessible?
Panel includes: Ian Constantinides (Historic Buildings Consultant, St Blaise)

14:35: Afternoon refreshments and networking

15:05: Case Study "A modern intervention"
- Why the intervention was considered the best solution for ensuring the building stays in use
- A sensitive approach to a modern extension
- Ensuring the right balance between old and new
- What were the problematic challenges on the project and what solutions were implemented?

15:35: Case study "Changing the use of a building"
- Why creative solutions were needed for changing the use of the listed building
- Ensuring the design was flexible enough to allow for changes in use in the future
- Using new materials to meet fire regulations
- Accessibility: Clarifying DDA regulations for historic buildings
- How structural idiosyncrasies were overcome

16:05: Question and answer session
16:20: Closing remarks from the Chair and end of conference

13th January 2009, 16:00 - 18:00
Applying policy in practice (A pre-conference workshop led by English Heritage)

In-depth discussion on:
Understanding the Heritage at Risk register
- How does it work?
- How is it used?
- What is it’s role in conservation?

Understanding English Heritage’s latest guidance documents:
- Sustainable management of the historic environment
- Enabling development and the conservation of significant places

Working with English Heritage to achieve the best possible conservation solutions for projects - case studies, best practice and discussion