New Approaches to the Protection of Cultural Heritage Turkish Union of Historical Towns International Meeting – Istanbul 2-4 th December 2005 Brian Smith Secretary General

Importance of Heritage as a key asset All cities want to prosper - realise their economic and social potential Not all cities have the key asset of historic heritage More worryingly not all cities recognise or accept the potential role that heritage can play in securing its economic and social well being

Cultural Heritage:- –influences and defines the character of historic cities –Provides identity and diversity –impacts on the stability and quality of urban life –contributes to economic prosperity & Heritage is under threat in a changing world –globalisation –pace of technological change –religious and ethnic intolerance –loss of historic fabric and identity

Challenges facing European historic cities

Gothenburg - demolition of Heritage s

Sustainable management of our historic towns must rely upon –the protection of historic urban cores and – key historic buildings of national and international significance Protection requires heritage to be valued and its potential exploited. This requires: - –Understanding of social, environmental and economic benefits –Political commitment & public support –Appropriate legislation –Resources : expertise and finance –Guidance on good practice

European Projects - INHERIT EAHTR focus on investing in heritage as means of regenerating historic cities INHERIT- understand the underlying processes that lead to successful heritage led regeneration Gothenburg, Sweden Belfast & Newcastle, UK, Verona, Italy, Gdansk, Poland, Lille, France & Ubeda, Spain Symposium – June 2007

Verona, Italy

Approaches National level –Resources administered through specialist organisations e.g English Heritage/ National Trust –Grant system supporting Local Authorities –Lack of resources Municipalities –Local Authorities use of planning system and grants to individuals e.g. Gothenburg, Sweden –Use for public purposes e.g Museums –Lack of resources Private Sector –Key Historic Buildings in private ownership –Sale of historic Assets e.g Venetian Palaces –Danger of inappropriate use/alterations –Loss of public access

Grey Street, Newcastle

Grainger Town, Newcastle - UK Migration of commercial & residential heart of city Public Private partnership created - Grainger Town Regeneration themes –Quality of Environment –Business Development & Enterprise –Housing –Access to Opportunity –Arts, Culture & Tourism –Management, Marketing & Promotion Objective: to create a dynamic European regional capital

Achievements Jobs created 1,900 Business Start Ups 200 Private Dwellings 386 Housing Association 136 Buildings improved & brought back into use 70 Public Sector Investment £40m Private Sector Investment £80m Europe Nostra Cultural Landscape Prize 2004 – donated to EAHTR

Public Private Partnership PPP an alternative to privatisation –sharing of risk & responsibility Principles –Long term agreements –Private sector capital investment –Public sector or user revenue stream –Public ownership retained –outcomes guaranteed by private partner Not widely used yet in cultural heritage –Culture Espaces –management of historic buildings/ museums Need for Guidelines & pilot schemes –Council of Europe –Initial interest from Russian Federation and Malta

Conclusions Importance of basic infrastructure –e.g legislation, political support, understanding of benefits Traditional approaches need to be supplemented not replaced –Government led funding/leverage Need for good practice/ evidence on different models –balance between National/local/ private investment –Exploration of potential of Public Private Partnership