Fred Taggart
Projects Director, The Prince’s Regeneration Trust, The Built Environment
In 1996 The Prince of Wales had the brilliant idea of creating an initiative to help community partnerships regenerate heritage buildings that were redundant or “at risk”. Regenerating heritage buildings wasn’t on anyone’s agenda at that time.
I was a London borough chief officer responsible for regeneration and strategic management, and was recruited for two years to set it up and I am involved to this day. I have worked with communities all over the United Kingdom and together we have conserved and regenerated all kinds of buildings, creating new jobs, homes, and community and education facilities.
I am constantly amazed by the untapped energy and enthusiasm in communities, and how much people care about their built environment, and how hard they will fight to save an old building they love. People have discovered that if they want to get something done they will probably have to do it themselves, and I have discovered that with encouragement and support they can tackle the most daunting building.
The Trust aims to share our skills and experience to empower more communities to regenerate the United Kingdom’s heritage buildings, and enable more people when confronted by official indifference, or doubt about their capability, to shout,” Yes we can!”. I can’t think of a better job.
