Heritage

Heritage Consultancy (heritarc@gmail.com | 07956 226699)

Heritarc – is a heritage consultancy providing professional advice on the conservation of the historic environment directed by Alexandra Fairclough MA BSc (Hons) LLB (Hons), PGDipLP (Barrister) MRTPI IHBC MITG.

Alexandra has over 30 years of experience in building conservation in local and central government and in private practice. She takes care to research & understand each heritage asset. Where necessary, she uses the complementary skills of independent consultants, in disciplines such as architecture, engineering, ecology & archaeology, to provide an integrated approach to the historic environment, tailored to the needs of each site or project. 

She is a chartered town planner and is both a full member of the RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) and IHBC (Institute of Historic Building Conservation). She is also legally trained and lectures and writes on heritage law.  She is a design judge for the RIBA and Civic Trust Awards.  As a trustee, council member and the chair of the NW Branch of the IHBC she leads on many areas of building conservation as well as teaching at several universities. She has been a member of the Diocesan Advisory Committee of Chester for over 25 years and sat on the Favric Committee for Chester Cathedral for 5 years as well as being a member of the Northern Committee of the Victorian Society for several years. She can offer a breadth and depth of knowledge in architectural conservation,  planning and law.

Based in Manchester she covers the north west region and her work includes key disciplines such as heritage impact assessments for development purposes, strategic planning, conservation area review, listed building advice and research. I am passionate about people, places, planning and property in the historic environment.  I work closely with local authorities, Historic England and clients and with other multi-disciplinary independent consultants to provide a holistic approach to development in the historic environment. Working together, we believe, offers the optimum outcome for clients

Heritarc offers the following services:

Expert Witness

As a former Planning Inspector, Alexandra is experienced in presiding over planning appeals as well as an expert witness in planning inquiries and hearings.  She understands the procedures and protocols to thus process to a very fine degree.

Listed buildings, buildings in Conservation Areas and Non-Designated Heritage Assets

Under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), August 2026, applicants are required to undertake an evaluation of significance before carrying out works to a “heritage “. We provide the expertise needed to prepare a Statement of Significance as part of an application for listed building consent or planning permission and we also prepare Heritage Impact Assessments or Design and Access Statements.

Listed Buildings

Local Planning Authorities expect detailed justifications for applications affecting listed buildings. We provide expertise on the sensitive issues concerning the repair, alteration or change of use of listed buildings. We give frank, impartial advice and seek pragmatic solutions, drawing on our broad experience. We also collaborate with architects on new development and extensions, to provide the supporting statements & justification needed to accompany applications for listed building consent & planning permission. We write appeal documents and act as an expert witness at planning inquiries. Our range of experience in assessing historic interiors includes a wide range of building types including Grade I listed country houses and villas, textile mills, early cinemas, chapels, schools and public buildings. Occasionally applications for large or complex sites will require a Conservation Management Plan.

Conservation Areas

We work closely with local planning authorities producing new  and updating existing conservation area appraisals and management plans.

Historic Landscapes

Heritarc can produced assessments and conservation management plans relating to World Heritage Sites, Registered Parks and Gardens and other specific heritage landscapes.