Natural and cultural heritage sites represent real opportunities in shaping communities

This was the message heard today at a symposium on “Future Places: Using Heritage to Build Resilient Communities” at Cultra Manor, County Down, where Communities Minister Paul Givan and Environment Minister Michelle McIlveen gave a joint address to key decision makers.

The symposium provided an opportunity to consider how our heritage can contribute to the current Programme for Government and the Local Development Plans being drawn up by the local councils which will shape the places where we all work and live for the next 15 years.

Minister Givan said: “Our heritage assets represent real opportunities - creating jobs, providing skills, encouraging tourism and supporting our economy.  Even our derelict historic buildings should be seen as unique opportunities. Jobs are created in restoration and conservation and craftsmen take a pride in maintaining traditional skills. 

“Historic monuments and buildings are important community assets, contributing to a sense of place, identity and pride as well as being places which can be used and enjoyed.  Historic monuments such as Dunluce castle, or listed buildings such as Mount Stewart, where the NI Executive recently contributed significant funding towards restoration works, are a real draw for tourists, supporting our economy. 

“Our historic sites also offer us an opportunity to learn about and better understand our past, and to bring our communities together into the future through that understanding.

“The symposium is very timely as the draft programme for Government is currently out to public consultation and I believe our heritage has the ability to contribute to a great many of the outcomes in the Programme.  Secondly, our 11 councils are currently drafting their Local Development Plans which will be absolutely key in shaping our communities, and it is important that our natural and built heritage together form an integral part of those plans.”

DAERA Minister Michelle McIlveen said: “I believe the linkage between natural and cultural heritage should also be viewed through sustainable development.  

“An outcome in the Executive’s draft Programme for Government is ‘A Place to work and invest’ which recognises the value of the natural and built environment in respect of providing a desirable setting in which to live, undertake recreational activity and encourage tourism.  

“Northern Ireland is internationally recognised as having a unique and picturesque natural and built environment which provides the backbone for many tourism activities and, increasingly, settings for major television programmes and films. 

“As Minister with responsibility for the environment, I am keen to work with my Executive colleagues to ensure that we are well positioned to continue to maximise the economic, social and cultural opportunities that our natural surroundings present. I look forward to my Department continuing to work with the Department for Communities and the statutory advisory councils in this regard going forward.”  

The symposium was hosted by the Historic Buildings Council, the Historic Monuments Council and the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside, which are statutory advisory councils to the Department for Communities (DfC) and the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). 

Membership of the Statutory Advisory Councils, who hosted the symposium, is drawn from a wide range of backgrounds and they bring a wealth of expertise to their role in advising the Departments. 

Addressing the symposium, Minister Givan added: “Many of the statutory advisory council members work in a voluntary capacity and their passion and knowledge makes a valuable contribution, for which the NI Executive would like to thank them.”

Notes to editors: 

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