The social and economic value of the Historic Environment

The Historic Environment is important to Northern Ireland as a remnant of its past and as a means of encouraging and developing our society and economy. Heritage is one way of helping to maintain character and of reinforcing community identity and pride. If managed appropriately it can encourage tourism and become an effective means of improving the quality of life of one area. This is important in efforts to attract inward investment and we have made efforts to increase the understanding of this potential for Northern Ireland by targeting key decision makers. One initiative to emerge was a 'Stakeholders Forum' where the chief executives of key Departments and industry groups will meet with us at regular intervals to explore how this potential can best be realised.

The Heritage Dividend

Quantifying the benefit of heritage investment to the wider economy is a difficult task but the attached case studies illustrate how this is relevant on a small and large scale. Case Study 1: Portrush Town Hall explores how the restoration of one building has had a significant impact upon its surroundings. Case Study 2: The Walled City Signature Project explores how heritage is seen as central to the regeneration of Northern Ireland's second city.

One key NIEA investment is the Listed Buildings Grant-aid scheme. This scheme helps leverage investment in listed buildings of at least three times the Departmental commitment. Because works to historic buildings are often much more than repairs, a commitment to an investment of £5,494,000 in 102 schemes made in 2007 and 2008 is expected to result total investment of £31,357,000 in the Northern Ireland economy. This is a ratio of 1:5.7 for every £1 of grant spent.

By its very nature and scale, most of this work, supports local jobs and skills. In turn, that investment also helps to support local shops, offices and housing, helps underpin tourism, reinforce local community identity and pride of place.