Knowledge is said to be power, but a little knowledge is also said to be a dangerous thing. Yet how many who own or live in an historic property have enough knowledge to fully protect both the historic property as well as the asset they have in their charge?

To prevent irretrievable loss, working with the historic built environment requires a good understanding of what is being worked on: whether to preserve capital value, intrinsic character or, more importantly, the historic fabric. A lack of understanding can also lead to problems with planning procedures, the use of inappropriate techniques or materials, and increased costs of restoration or conversion.

Whether someone is buying or already owns, lives in, or uses an historic property, there will come a time when they consider works that might involve conservation, alteration or repair. It is then that there is a need to know as much as possible about a site, and one way of achieving this is to commission an Historic Building Environment Impact Study or HBEIS.

A properly prepared HBEIS will provide an historical perspective for that historic area or structure and should contain:

• A description of the property
• Background history of the site
• Historic development analysis of the building or site
• Planning background – both history and policy
• Detailed measured plans, elevations, etc
• Condition survey

When there is a full understanding of what is being dealt with, then a reasoned and rational programme of work can be proposed, whilst preserving or protecting those parts that warrant such preservation. It allows the significant elements of the structure to be identified, whilst those of less importance can be handled accordingly, thus reducing the need to protect everything as if it were all of equal importance.

An HBEIS gives an independent and considered view of the structure that is developed to the fullest extent possible from the professional investigation that is carried out. This study of the building or landscape is used to inform how and what work is commissioned. Architects and engineers will have a full appraisal of the property together with fully analysed drawings that can be used as a basis for design work. They are thus able to respond in the most appropriate manner when preparing their proposals. An independently-prepared HBEIS will give an optimum level of credibility when being considered by local planning, conservation and other specialist evaluation.

Advantages of an HBEIS are:

• Cost savings on detailed building dimensional surveys
• Interpretative analysis of the structure to be worked on
• Designers have accurate and analysed drawings upon which to base their designs
• Everybody is able to work with and not fight the building
• Saving of fees by ‘simplification’ of design work
• Reduced number of ‘surprises’ encountered by contractors when work starts on site
• Ability to develop accurate budgets from a proper understanding of the site
• Reduced claim potential from contractors because there is better information available about the structure they are working on
• Job programme ‘solidification’