C O N T E X T 1 3 3 : M A R C H 2 0 1 4 25 VALUING HERITAGE Chloe Oswald, conservation officer with Derby City Council, is grateful for input from Clive Fletcher of English Heritage and Valeria Passetti, the council’s partnership scheme grants officer. public interest was maintained by issuing press releases for the local press, mentioning the economic benefits, as well as the visual impact and the retention of significance. Surveys of businesses included in the scheme reveal that trade and visitors to the area have increased as a result. There have been new retail jobs and new businesses, and 150 jobs have been safeguarded. Almost all the refurbished buildings are occupied. All the designs for the reinstatement of architectural features have been based on physical evidence or historic research, so that they maintain significance and real local identity, rather than creating pastiche. The project has been accompanied by public realm work in surrounding streets, conforming to Derby’s public realm palette. There has been a ripple effect as owners of nearby properties have undertaken their own positive improvements. Small construction firms have been supported and craft skills promoted throughout the scheme. It has gone some way to convincing former conservation sceptics about the value of using heritage A shopfront onWardwick with reinstated light fitting, and repaired blind awning and soffit, pilaster, cornice and fascia (Photos: Chloe Oswald) Wardwick after refurbishment assets, on a small scale, as a major regeneration catalyst. One of the main contributing factors was setting a high standard of work and applying these standards consistently across other planning-controlled work which was not grant aided.The beauty and quality of buildings previously blighted by poor repairs and alterations has turned liabilities into assets. Far left:The stallriser of a refurbished shopfront The project has been accompanied by public realm work in surrounding streets, conforming to Derby’s public realm palette.
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