The social and economic value of the Historic Environment

The Historic Environment has an important role to play in the development of Northern Ireland’s economy and society.

Economic Value

1. Contribution to tourism. All of the ‘Signature Projects’ currently being promoted by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board have a strong built heritage element. NITB research has shown that historic monuments and buildings are a major draw- particularly for visitors from outside the region. There is scope to expand the tourism industry and good management and coordination of historic assets will help.
2. Added Value to regeneration schemes. Historic buildings and monuments provide great character to a place. Such character can have a positive impact upon rents and also upon the reputation of businesses or agencies located in them.
3. Attracting business. Inward investment is increasingly mobile. The historic environment helps to distinguish Northern Ireland from elsewhere. This can contribute to attracting business to the region.
4. Contribution of sector to economy. Significant funds are invested in the historic environment every year in Northern Ireland. This sustains jobs, skills and knowledge. Our listed building grant scheme for example, leverages an average investment of £5.70 for every £1 invested. This is an important contribution to sustaining the building industry.

Social Value

1. Sense of Place. Historic buildings, monuments and landscapes make a huge contribution to how Northern Ireland perceives itself. Forming less than 2% of our building stock, historic structures make up the principal features of towns, cities, villages and rural area.
2. Pride. Well conserved, our historic environment is often a source of pride to communities large and small across the region.
3. Quality of life indicators. Attractive places to live contribute positively to such indicators. The historic environment, well conserved, is a key component.
4. Community harmony. Heritage is a common resource for all sections of society. It is also a repository of information about history and often a reminder that this was much more complex than commonly assumed.

We have published a booklet: ‘Heritage Led Regeneration in the Derry City Council Area (.PDF 1.46Mb)' which highlights efforts being made to capitalise on this potential in one part of Northern Ireland. This looks at a number of different initiatives in the area, which will become UK Capital of Culture in 2013, and considers their collective impact.

Similar initiatives have developed across the region we have initiated a ‘Stakeholders Forum’, chaired by the Minister of the Environment, where the chief executives of key Departments and industry groups meet at regular intervals to explore how this potential can best be realised.

The Heritage Dividend

Quantifying the benefit of heritage investment to the wider economy is a difficult task. The attached case study looks at how this can be relevant even on a small scale. Case Study 1: Portrush Town Hall (.PDF 158Kb) shows how investment in one historic building has had a wider impact.

One of our key areas of investment is the Listed Buildings Grant-aid scheme. This scheme helps leverage investment in listed buildings of at least three times the Departmental commitment. Because works to historic buildings are often much more than repairs, a commitment to an investment of £5,494,000 in 102 schemes made in 2007 and 2008 is expected to result total investment of £31,357,000 in the Northern Ireland economy. This is a ratio of 1 to 5.7 for every £1 of grant spent.

By its very nature and scale, most of this work, supports local jobs and skills. In turn, that investment also helps to support local shops, offices and housing, helps underpin tourism, reinforce local community identity and pride of place.