Conservation planning
What it is
Systematic investigation leading to recommendations for action. I do the work myself, or work with other specialists, as needed.
Who needs it
Owners, custodians and design consultants who maintain and develop listed buildings and places.
How it's done
These are the steps in the process, set out in a generic way. I design a work method to suit each project:
| STAGE 1 Understanding the place |
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| Gathering evidence (documentary and physical) | |
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| Co-ordinating and analysing evidence | |
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| Assessing and stating significance | ||||
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| STAGE 2 Conservation policy and its implementation | |
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| Gathering information for the development of conservation policy | |
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| | Developing a conservation policy | Stating conservation policy and evolving strategies and options for its implementation |
The diagram is taken from J S Kerr's book The conservation plan —— details below
Cost
The cost depends on the issues, and on the detail required. Most studies cost in the range from $5,000 to $50,000. (Grants are sometimes available to support community projects).
What you get
A clearly written illustrated report. Report size varies with the complexity of the subject — usually between 20 and 100 pages. Though some of the content is technical, it is readable by interested non-specialists.
Through the process of investigation and discussion, you gain a better understanding of the place and how to care for it.
For example
See the East Brisbane State School conservation study, a short conservation plan (about 20 pages), but a large download (about 1.7mb, pdf format, you will need Acrobat Reader).
See also
Guidelines to the Burra charter: procedures for undertaking studies and reports.
James Semple Kerr, The conservation plan: a guide to the preparation of conservation plans for places of European cultural significance (Sydney: National Trust of Australia (NSW)), the standard work on the subject.