MPs to ask National Trust how to better protect our historic buildings
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee will hear from the owners and operators of some of the UK’s most cherished heritage sites as it holds the first evidence session of its inquiry into protecting built heritage on Tuesday, 17 June.
Meeting details
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport estimates that engagement with heritage sites annually delivers £8 billion of wider societal benefits and supports a varied network of economies, including the housing sector. However, with the heritage sector currently facing severe financial pressures, there is a risk these sites will be left to decay.
In the first panel, MPs will hear from heritage building operators and those working in restoration as they explore the motivations driving operators to take on heritage projects, and question how funding and planning requirements impact smaller charities and operators.
MPs will then hear from representatives of the National Trust and Historic Houses as they examine sector-wide challenges, including financial pressures and skills shortages. Restoring damaged or dilapidated sites and the issues around retrofitting could also be explored.