C O N T E X T 1 3 3 : M A R C H 2 0 1 4 45 Forums where the trust’s heritage advisers meet local authority conservation officers evidence a willingness to discuss and debate options for developing LLBCOs (as well as heritage partnership agreements). There is an emerging view that these are potentially useful tools that could save money and time for the trust and local authorities as well as demonstrating effective heritage management. Heritage partnership agreements Another tool in the heritage management kit is heritage partnership agreements (HPAs), different kinds of which have existed for some time. Linear canal corridors, with nodal points containing multi-designated groups of heritage assets, lend themselves to HPA treatment. Since 2005 the trust and its predecessor have pioneered the use of HPAs in partnership with English Heritage and forward-looking local authorities. At present, although it has a number under development, the trust is operating three ‘general’ HPAs and eight scheduled monument management agreements and is evaluating the effectiveness of these over time. The most ambitious of the three HPAs is the Greater Manchester Canals HPA, which is currently being revised. It is the fruit of collaboration between the trust, English Heritage’s north west region, 10 Greater Manchester local authorities and the Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit.This covers parts of eight different canals and their designated heritage assets, which include scheduled monuments, listed buildings and conservation areas. ERRA now permits the use of statutory listed building HPAs.The trust is looking at the potential use of these for small but clearly defined complexes of listed buildings, such as those found in a former canal maintenance depot or boatyard. Certificates of lawfulness of proposed works Another useful tool for historic property owners and developers is the certificate of lawfulness of proposed works. These certificates state that proposed works do not affect the character of a listed building and therefore do not require listed building consent.The trust can see potential for occasional use of such certificates, perhaps linked to an HPA.They could prove useful, for example, where a suite of beneficial repairs is needed to refurbish a former lock-keeper’s cottage, or where essential roof and chimney repairs are needed on a larger canal-side property. A national overview A further piece of work that the trust and English Heritage are collaborating on, and that meshes with much of the above, is a national overview of the heritage and archaeology of England’s present and former inland waterways. The principal aim of this work is to gain a better understanding of the character and significance of surviving assets of England’s historic waterways, both those owned by the trust and those in other hands. The national overview project will provide a high level overview of England’s waterways by asset type and individual waterway. It will characterise the historic building stock and discuss the significance of different types. It will identify gaps in the designation base and enable effective management from a planning point of view, especially for those waterways outside the trust’s purview. It will also consider how heritage assets are faring, through heritage-at-risk registers. The ultimate aim is to gain a better understanding of the character and significance of surviving assets of England’s historic inland waterways, allowing best use of limited resources to protect them and their historic environments. Far left:The main workshop at Ellesmere Yard, Llangollen Canal. Complexes like this could be covered by a listed building heritage partnership agreement. Canal cottages, Wolverhampton. Specified works to these listed buildings could be covered by a certificate of lawfulness of proposed works. Nigel Crowe is head of heritage,Canal & RiverTrust www.canalrivertrust.org. uk/about-us/heritage Beech House, Ellesmere Yard, Llangollen Canal. Specific repairs (to the roof and chimneys, for example) at a property like this could be covered by a certificate of lawfulness of proposed works.
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