Positive creativity within building conservation

The 2025 CIOB Conservation Conference sees a new approach that embraces the creativity of ordinary people working in the whole of the building conservation life cycle.

While all construction activities can have elements of creativity, historic building projects often have a higher proportion of unknown element due to unique construction methods and layers of history, in some cases over several decades.

There are a range of policies and processes that inform the careful management of change such as Acts of Parliament, English Heritage’s Sustainable Conservation Principles and Heritage Impact Assessments.

There will always be situations in every heritage project that requires people to use often hidden talents to find creative solutions to challenging problems. By showcasing the creative element of building conservation, this year’s conference will deliver innovate ideas and solutions.

Age and Inspiration

Speakers have been invited to share content that covers both their range of experiences and their various roles in building conservation. It is no surprise that digital technology features in several of the presentations with bonus interactive demonstrations, including:

• the wider perception of heritage and building conservation
• empowering different voices from communities and heritage professionals
• innovation and the rapidly advancing use of technology in learning, decision making and investment.

People power and stakeholder involvement

Many conservation projects, especially in the tourism and museum sector, often involve closing sites and buildings to the public while repairs are completed. Speakers will explore how to keep sites open and engage visitors through creative involvement. This is essential in projects where buildings form part of a communal identity.

The speakers will also explore:

• how heritage staff can use their creative skills to inform and shape projects
• the use of innovation and imagery in heritage projects
• analysing, learning, adapting, & sharing stories, and
• creative ways to support people to engage in heritage and feel part of their local historic sites.

The Conservation skills cycle

Speakers will share the range of creative techniques throughout the life cycle of a heritage project from inception to completion.

Several innovative uses of technology, showcasing clever uses of drones for maintenance tasks and “green skills”, will also be demonstrated. Developing a Cyber-Physical System for Immersive Construction Training shows a creative approach to engaging trainees.

Delegates will also discuss the cross-over of skills for other areas of the industry, such as environment and sustainability, and compliance, as well as the inter-connectivity between building disciplines within a project, the shared use of data, and collaboration.

Audience participation

For the first time ever, we have introduced a drawing competition to be completed live at the event and open to all attendees. All drawing materials will be provided. Event attendees can either draw from their imagination or copy a photograph from their mobile phones. The competition is not about who has the most accurate drawings skills, but more about who can produce the most creative and interesting stylised drawing.

The images will be shortlisted by the CIOB Heritage Advisory Panel, with the shirtlist then voted on by conference delegates.

Three fantastic prizes are up for grabs in the competition:

• 1st Prize - 1 free place on any CIOB Academy Live Classroom Courses
• 2nd Prize - Annual Family Membership for English Heritage
• 3rd Prize - A Family Day Ticket to St Paul’s Cathedral

Case studies

Sponsors Selectaglaze and Hutton and Rostron will also share two exciting case studies showcasing creative solutions and investigation techniques.

The CIOB Conservation Conference: Engage. Involve. Empower takes place at Congress Centre, London, on March 12.

Innovation in maintenance technology 

© English Heritage Trust

One of the main challenges facing English Heritage Trust is the maintenance of ruins. They often become overgrown with plants growth, some of which is extremely harmful, especially those made with earth mortar.

Traditional techniques such as scaffolding or rope access can be slow or expensive and struggle to constantly keep on top of plant growth.

English Heritage Trust are partnering with Railscape Technologies who are creating some very creative and innovative systems to address the challenge. One of them is the Remote Herbicide Application (RHA) Suite, a hybrid drone and spraying system.

An advanced camera system allows for the drone footage to be seen on a large screen in real time.