Conservation in a Challenging EnvironmentBlaenavon World Heritage Site Case Study

John Rodger MBE, Blaenavon WHS CoordinatorRebecca Hartley, Blaenavon Regeneration Officer

“The Blaenavon Industrial Landscape is one of the prime areas in the world where the full social, economic and technological process of industrialisation through iron and coal production can be studied and understood”.

  Extract from UK Tentative List, June 1999

Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site

View to Coity in here

Section through WHS

Historic picture of Ironworks

Blaenavon World Heritage Site Icons

World Heritage Centre - After

Blaenavon Partnership Management Structure

STEERING GROUP

Officers

World Heritage Day Committee

AUTHORITY

Assembly, Councils, Boards

MANAGEMENT BOARD

Voluntary

REPORT TO BTC

STRATEGY GROUP BTC/CONSULTATION

OPERATIVE GROUP

TCBC/BTC

Warden Service

Voluntary

Govilon Heritage

Statutory Responsibility

Overview

Communities First

P & B Railway

Traders and Tourism

Association

Voluntary

Voluntary

Voluntary

Marketing and Promotion

Education Landscape and AccessForgotten Landscapes

Partnership

Blaenavon Town CentreHistoric Environment

Voluntary

Llanfoist Heritage

Voluntary

Community Heritage Museum

Voluntary

WHS CO-ORDINATOR

Community Consultation

Voluntary

WORKING GROUPS

Agencies

Blaenavon Town Centre, 1998

Broad Street1928... 1998...

Town Centre Challenge

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

Y ear of Census

Population Growth & Decline:

Cou

nt

ab

an

don

ed

du

e t

o W

ar

Source: OPCS

Nu

mb

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of

Peop

le

Regeneration Response

•Identify clear strategy for renewal, conservation and development

• Bring together diverse professional interests to maximise funding opportunities (Housing Renewal, WAG)

•Development of Project Initiation Documents (PID’s)

•Liaise with key stakeholders in the town

Lion Street: Library & Public Toilets

Blaenavon World Heritage Centre

RIBA Award Winner 2008

Lower Broad Street

Enveloping Scheme

Restoration New Build

Broad StreetRetail Core - 32-39 Broad Street

1998 2006/7

Regional Winners of the Federation of Master Builders Awards 2006

“This award is by no means attributable to our company. Without the dedication of Torfaen Council, its huge efforts in obtaining funding and the consistent efforts of its Officers, this award could not have been achieved”

Managing Director P & P Builders.

Retail Core Phase 2 – 73/80 Broad Street

1998 2007/8

Boot Lane – Rear of Phase 2

1998 2007/8

Public Realm

Pennant Sandstone Paving and Coping Stones with Lime Mortar

World Heritage Branded Seat

World Heritage Bollard

Renewal of arrival Car Park Improvements

Challenges Remain…

World Heritage Day 2009