IHBC Annual School - Worcester 2016
23 - 25 June 2016

People Power
Catalyst for change

The subject of the conference is People Power and how communities are integral to the conservation and regeneration of historic places.

The speakers are from a range of backgrounds including communities and conservation professionals; all will be demonstrating the power of the people in historic building conservation.

School website

CHAIR Imogen Sambrook
VICE CHAIR Paul Collins
BRANCH REPRESENTATIVE ON COUNCIL Vacant
TREASURER Jan Ratcliffe
SECRETARY Andrew Sirakowski
EVENTS OFFICER Melissa Osborne
MEMBERSHIP OFFICER Charles Shapcott
EDUCATION OFFICER Vacant
CONSULTATIONS/POLICY OFFICER Louisa Davidson
COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES

• Shropshire Ben Williscroft + Ruth Hitchen
• Staffordshire Ed Higgins
• Worcester Mary Worsfold
• Warwickshire John Copping
• Birmingham/Black Country Paul Collins
• Herefordshire Conor Ruttledge

NEWSLETTER OFFICER Vacant
PUBLICITY/WEBSITE OFFICER Rachael Parry

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Thursday 21st November 2019

‘Pre-fabs and system builds: C20th innovations in construction in the West Midlands’

Venue: TBC Birmingham with visit to Wake Green Road Prefabs

• Time & venue tbc
• Description of content & programme
Presentations on the Wake Green Prefabs and Prefabulous
Presentation on 20th century construction – system builds

The Wake Green Road Prefabs
The Grade II listed Phoenix prefab bungalows in Wake Green Road were designed and manufactured by John Laing, McAlpine and Henry Boot, as part of a consignment of 2,428 prefabs supplied to the Ministry of Works under the Temporary Housing Programme. These temporary homes were only expected to be in use for ten years but 70 years on they are still in use. There are no other known surviving Phoenix prefabs still lived in which makes these extra special.

All but one of the prefabs are owned by Birmingham City Council.

Back in 2014, Birmingham Conservation Trust became involved and commissioned an Options Appraisal on behalf of the City Council to look at the potential for the Trust to take on one or more Prefabs to run as a museum and holiday lets.

This was followed up in 2016 by Lou Robson’s “Conservation plan: Wake Green Road Prefabs” which explored the context for the Prefabs and highlighted not just their rarity and their importance as a group, but also the rarity of their listing and the significance of their interior fittings.

In early 2017 the “Prefabulous” partnership was formed when BCT, the 20th Century Society and the Prefab Museum decided to join forces to work towards saving the Wake Green Prefabs. Funding was secured from Historic England was secured in May 2017 to allowed the group to undertake a scoping scheme.
In spring 2018, the scheme was completed and negotiations are currently underway with Birmingham City Council to secure a future for these time-warp homes.

• What are the CPD benefits? Which IHBC Areas Of Competence will be developed?
Competences to be addressed:
Professional: 1. Conservation Philosophy; 2. Practice
Evaluation: 3. History; 4. Analysis
Management: 5. Legislation
Intervention : 7. Design 8. Technology
• Cost tbc
• Booking details will be by Eventbrite details to follow

The IHBC West Midlands Branch Day School 2010
Sustainability in the historic environment
Took place on Friday 30th April 2010

Flyer: Download Flyer PDF