Tuesday 17 June, 10am,
Committee Room 16, Palace of Westminster
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee will hear
from the owners and operators of some of the UK's most cherished
heritage sites as it holds the first evidence session of its
inquiry into protecting built heritage on Tuesday,
17th June.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport estimates that
engagement with heritage sites annually delivers £8 billion of
wider societal benefits and supports a varied network of
economies, including the housing sector. However, with the
heritage sector currently facing severe financial pressures,
there is a risk these sites will be left to decay.
In the first panel, MPs will hear from heritage building
operators and those working in restoration as they explore the
motivations driving operators to take on heritage projects, and
question how funding and planning requirements impact smaller
charities and operators.
MPs will then hear from representatives of the National Trust and
Historic Houses as they examine sector-wide challenges, including
financial pressures and skills shortages. Restoring damaged or
dilapidated sites and the issues around retrofitting could also
be explored.
Witnesses
From 10am:
-
Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Chair, Morecambe
Winter Gardens
-
Dr Tegwen Roberts, Former Heritage Action Zone
Lead, Eldon Street (Barnsley) High Street Heritage Action Zone
-
Camilla Finlay, Director, Clews Architects
From 11am:
-
Hilary McGrady, Director-General, National
Trust
-
Alice Loxton, Historian, Author and National
Trust Ambassador
-
Ben Cowell OBE, Director General, Historic
Houses
