Built conservation
What is the built conservation team?
We are a team comprising qualified town planners, conservationists and archaeologists, which is part of Environmental Regeneration Services (Regeneration Directorate). The team provides a broad range of advice and information on building conservation matters as well as building and townscape design, working closely with our colleagues in Landscape Design and Planning Services. We also provide comments to the Council’s Planning and other Services.
What can I expect from the built conservation service?
- The Council has a statutory duty to conserve elements of the historic built environment. To this end, we strive to engage in constructive dialogue with the owners and occupiers of historic properties in order to ensure we give practical advice for appropriate heritage management.
- We aim to respond to the changing needs in conservation practice by planning for change. We believe that conservation is not about standing still, but devising appropriate ways forward whilst retaining the best of the past.
- We represent building conservation within the context of regeneration and cultural development in Walsall Borough and the Midlands region.
- We undertake thematic surveys, conservation area appraisals and monitor historic buildings and ‘buildings at risk’ to inform the statutory planning processes and advocate the retention and incorporation of valuable built features in new designs.
- We can provide information on best practice in building conservation and advise on appropriate techniques for building conservation work
- We encourage pre-planning application discussions and are happy to provide advice prior to works taking place, to allow you to make informed decisions about your property or proposals
- We bid to external sources (such as English Heritage and Heritage Lottery Fund) for heritage based regeneration funding, which is targeted at specified areas within the Borough, and manage such programmes. Unfortunately, at present, the council does not have a general budget to grant aid conservation works.
- We can provide advice on site layout and architectural design by assessing the context of development proposals in relation to wider design objectives.
- We will respond to all letters and faxes within 15 working days of receiving them
- We endeavour to acknowledge all emails within one working day and will respond to them fully within 15 working days
- We liaise with local, regional and national organisations to help us provide you with best practice advice on current thinking/solutions and implementation.
What do you expect from me?
We need our customers to be aware of the value of the built heritage. Historic and new designs combine to provide meaningful, attractive solutions.
It must be appreciated that individual proposals and developments contribute to an overall townscape quality.
What are your customer care standards?
- We will handle your request promptly
- We will maintain high accessibility and availability of service
- We will provide an effective service that meets your needs
- We will be fair and courteous regardless of ethnicity, disability or gender
- We will be helpful and strive to go the extra mile to meet and/or exceed your expectations
- We will provide all the information you require to satisfy your needs
- We will ensure that our people are professional well trained and knowledgeable and where information systems are used such as kiosks, that the level of service is maintained
- We will ensure that your request is owned by the first person you contact
- We will fully protect your privacy and Information about you will be treated as confidential
- We will strive to deliver what you need
How can I comment on the service?
Have we done a good job? Then ‘Tell Us’! We have a form on which you can make comments, suggest how we can improve services or make a formal complaint. These ‘Tell Us’ forms are available in all reception areas. If you prefer, contact us directly and we will send you one. If you have internet access, you can complete the form online at: www.walsall.gov.uk/tellus
How do I get in touch with you?
Write to us or visit us at:
Environmental Regeneration Services
Civic Centre
Darwall Street
Walsall
WS1 1DG
Telephone 01922 652476
Fax 01922 623234
Minicom 01922 652415
Translation service 01922 652426
Email envregen@walsall.gov.uk
or use our online contact form for general enquiries, request a service, compliments and complaints.
Opening hours
8.45am to 5.15pm Monday to Friday
This page was last updated on 06 June 2008