Industrial Heritage Conference 2015 1-2 December 2016, Manchester

Industrial Heritage Conference 2015 1-2 December 2016, Manchester

Following a campaign by a network of organisations involved in the conservation, protection, promotion and conversion of historic industrial sites, the Council of Europe has declared 2015 as European Industrial and Technical Heritage (EITH) Year.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Historic England (HE) and The Prince’s Regeneration Trust (PRT) are organising an event to tie in with EITH 2015.

The central theme is re-use, with a focus on developing new uses for vacant, at-risk industrial buildings by connecting them to creative industries businesses, developers, investors, other commercial opportunities and community-led/not-for-profit organisations.

Historic buildings help to provide diversity in the nature and affordability of commercial floorspace. They are adaptable, flexible spaces, often with lower rents, and are crucial to the development of new industries, particularly creative and the knowledge economy. Creative companies largely want to work in premises near other like-minded enterprises, often in mixed-use, independent, adaptable, flexible spaces which can offer attractively-low rents.

This approach is embodied in places like London’s Shoreditch and Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Equally, industrial buildings can easily be converted to residential use, providing different typology and identity.

We’re delighted that the conference will be held at Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). The Museum is housed in the former Liverpool Road Stations, one of Manchester’s most important and historic sites.

The conference will explore the theme of re-use of industrial heritage. The event will be split into two days, each with a slightly different focus:

• Day One will explore the role of the public sector in encouraging the creative reuse of industrial heritage and commercial opportunities presented by historic buildings, with a focus on creative industries, development and regeneration uses. It aims to connect with businesses, investors and local/national decision makers.
• Day Two will explore opportunities to develop new uses and engage with commercial partners to leverage investment and funding with a focus on not-for-profit groups, community organisations, heritage sector partners and historic building owners.

You can find all the details and book on the website: http://ih2015.org.uk/