Lead Member - Lawrence Hunt

Lead member for Heritage and Building Conservation.

Main linked Directorate(s)

Reports to the Portfolio Holder for:

To support the delivery of the Progress with Unity missions and Council plan
To support our Community Wealth Building approach, including promoting heritage assets to encourage people to live, work and spend their money locally
To support the delivery of our Climate Change Strategy, including protecting and conserving our heritage assets as part of the wider response to environmental sustainability
To act as Heritage Champion to celebrate the importance of the borough’s heritage and promote its conservation and contribution to the borough
To champion, promote and celebrate all aspects of the historic environment in the borough, including:
- Over 500 listed buildings and structures
- 23 Conservation Areas
- 12 Scheduled Ancient Monuments
- 1 Nationally Registered Park and Garden
- Other heritage assets of local interest.
- To support and promote delivery of the Historic Environment Strategy
- To ensure pragmatic care of the historic environment is embedded in all local authority activities and plans and decisions
- To support the work of the Planning and Culture teams to promote understanding the importance of the rich heritage of our towns and places
- To support initiatives such as Heritage Action Zones and Townscape Heritage Initiatives
- To advocate conservation best practice to protect the heritage of the borough for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

Work towards reducing our local Heritage At Risk: Haigh Hall and Ince Cemetery Chapels and our historic mills
Promote and support the reappraisal of our Conservation Areas starting with Leigh Town Centre, Leigh Railway Road and Wigan Town Centre, followed by Wigan Pier Quarter and Ashton Conservation Areas
Deliver Heritage Action Zones in Wigan and Tyldesley (community-led) including proactive approaches to planning breaches
Support the council to work with owners of heritage assets such as Eckersley Mills, Pagefield Mill and Winstanley Hall to secure an appropriate conservation outcome
Identify and secure new funding opportunities
Celebrate and promote understanding our historic environment
Promote engagement through working with communities and stakeholders and support for the National Heritage Open Days scheme.