Princes Charities in Wales Week 2009
The Prince’s Charities Blog (http://princescharities.org/blog)
Minister supports reuse of redundant rural buildings in Wales
Addressing a full house of professionals, policy influencers, community representatives and funders, Jocelyn Davies, Deputy Minister for Housing, Welsh Assembly Government stated her support for bringing redundant rural buildings back into use to improve the sustainability of rural communities throughout Wales.
Through The Prince's Regeneration Trust's characterisation work of the farm buildings of the Cambrian Mountains, we have discovered that of the 530 farmsteads surveyed so far, 30% of the buildings were disused and 5% of farms completely abandoned and this is just 1/3, we still have a significant area to survey. This research points to a worrying trend that the character and viability of rural communities is under threat.
The seminar highlighted affordable housing as a potential new use for historic rural buildings that supports both the character and economy of the local community and Keith Jones from the National Trust revealed how, contrary to common opinion, these historic buildings can be made energy efficient with low-tech solutions.
The seminar helped to build collaborative working by presenting the problems faced by rural communities, what can be done to address these problems through the built environment and what role different organisations and individuals can play to facilitate positive change.
Summary notes from the seminar can be downloaded here (83.4KB).
http://www.princes-regeneration.org/newsletters/2009-10/full/index.html#seminar
Programme for the week
Llwynywermod - Talking Wales - A Sustainable Future (197k)