Research Project

‘Beyond the List’: a critical examination of the development and impacts of statutory and non-statutory heritage lists on the national management of heritage in England.

Supervisors: Dr Gill Chitty and Dr Deborah Mays (Historic England)

Funding: AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership

Summary of research project:

The scope and relevance of statutory designation for heritage assets has been transformed over the last 10 years in response to policy change and to steady reduction in national and local government resources. This research investigates the development, format, contents, distribution and management impacts of statutory and non-statutory heritage lists on the national management of heritage. There is a particular focus on examining the interaction of local and national lists; regional variations in quality and coverage; and the interaction of related statutory instruments like the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 with current planning controls.

Profile

Claire Smith is a PhD researcher and heritage consultant, specialising in heritage management and participatory conservation projects. She has a BA in History of Art and an MA in Cultural Heritage Management, and has taught on the RIBA conservation course as well as at university undergraduate and masters levels.

Prior to the PhD, Claire was a Listed Buildings Caseworker for the Council for British Archaeology, combining the perspectives of architectural history and archaeology. Claire has particular research interests in built heritage, values and significance, participatory approaches to heritage management and connectivity between theory and practice. Seeking to embed her research-based ideals into practical projects, Claire has jointly coordinated a conservation project at St Denys church, York, where National Lottery Heritage funding was used to conserve the historic building, create new interpretation materials and deliver community activities. Claire has also worked with Joined Up Heritage Sheffield to produce an innovative, grass roots, heritage strategy for the city of Sheffield.

Publications and Awards

Claire Smith (2018) Enhancing Nottingham’s local list, Historic England Research, (8), 34-39. Available at: https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/historic-england-research-8/he-research-8/

Gill Chitty & Claire Smith (2019) Principles into Policy: Assessing the Impact of Conservation Principles in Local Planning Policy, The Historic Environment: Policy & Practice, 10:3-4, 282-299, DOI: 10.1080/17567505.2019.1652401

Teaching & Impact

2012 - 2014     Teaching assistant – Heritage Practice

2014               Guest lecturer – RIBA Conservation course (external to University of York)

2014 - 2016     External speaker – Heritage Protection

2016               Group tutor – Practical Skills and Group Project: Conservation and Planning  

2016 - 2019    Module leader – Heritage Protection