Conservation
We are responsible for the repair and upkeep of some of the finest buildings in Oxford including the Radcliffe Camera, Sheldonian Theatre and Bodleian Library. We are currently producing Conservation Management Plans for 47 of our 67 listed buildings. These plans draw together information from archives, planning records, books, and websites, to provide valuable information for building managers, architects and planners.
They also assist in the preparation of Heritage Impact Assessments for any listed building applications which are submitted. The Conservation Management Plans are publically accessible documents which provide fascinating historical information for people who use and visit the buildings.
The following principles guide our conservation work:
- Any repairs or alterations will be informed by an understanding of the significance of the heritage asset
- Any alterations must be sympathetic to a building’s significance as a heritage asset and respect its character and that of the surrounding area
- Active consideration will be given to improving disabled access throughout the estate
- Heritage assets and their original architectural features should be conserved and kept in use wherever possible, although change may be necessary to keep the building safe and usable
- Any alterations should incorporate low and zero carbon technologies where feasible
Visit the Estates Services website to view our Conservation Management Plans.