[HBP#39] - Zoe Hooton & Jess Barrow - Architect + Heritage Consultant: Two Experts, One Mission

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Welcome to the Heritage Buildings Podcast!

In this episode, Vincent Reed sits down with Zoe Hooton, Specialist Conservation Architect and Director at HPA Architects and Woohoo, alongside Jessica Barrow, Heritage Consultant and Director at both HPA Architects and Woohoo.

They discuss how conservation architects and heritage consultants work together to deliver successful listed building, historic building conservation, and heritage planning projects. From early collaboration and pre-application advice to working with conservation officers, they share practical insights into navigating the UK planning system.

The conversation also explores the challenges facing heritage conservation, including inconsistent planning decisions, reduced conservation resources, managing change in historic buildings, and balancing heritage significance with modern requirements. They also share lessons from their work on Lancaster Castle's Well Tower (Witches' Tower).

Topics covered include:

• What does a conservation architect do?

• The role of a heritage consultant in listed building projects

• Historic building conservation and adaptive reuse

• Listed Building Consent and heritage planning permission

• Working with conservation officers and local planning authorities

• Heritage statements, significance assessments, and public benefit