Aimée L Felton 2012

2 Abstract Maintenance has been acknowledged in recent years through increasingly available conservation literature as a key intervention for protecting, enhancing the embedded cultural significance of historic fabric and continuing the legacy of the historic buildings within the UK. Limited research into this topic already identifies almost all organisations, whether heritage or non-heritage focused, as falling short of best practice approaches to the stewardship of historic buildings. Much of the academic focus is directed towards the orthodox preventative minimal intervention approach, however maintenance is still a low priority for many organisations. In order to improve the perception and provision for maintenance, a new 21st century approach is required utilising a broader spectrum, acknowledging the importance of a systematic integrated strategy with organisational policies. The following research examines techniques, approaches and goals utilised by non- heritage focused organisations in the management of maintaining the historic buildings. Non-heritage focused organisation is used to define organisations with a primary purpose that does not specifically include the care of listed buildings. A primary research objective is to examine and identify where improvements could be made in order to achieve a more structured integrated approach within organisation goals to encourage better practice. The disparity between implied obligations to owners regarding duty of care, short supply of available guidance and mixed statutory legislation, suggests the increased requirement for further fiscal aid in the UK to provide incentives to owners, positively encouraging regular planned maintenance over dilapidation, deterioration and dereliction. Throughout the research, focus is placed on three case study organisations, which all own a substantial property portfolio, including at least one listed historic building, of architectural merit. By removing as many variables as possible the research endeavours to determine the role of condition surveys, conservation plans and information management protocols. Abstract Historic building maintenance: An integrated agenda for non-heritage focused organisations? Aimee Felton