The RSUA Conservation Committee met on 4 March 2026.
Manus Deery, Acting Director for the Historic Environment Division (HED) of the Department for Communities (DfC), attended the meeting to provide an update on work being carried out by HED and to take part in a wider discussion about heritage matters in Northern Ireland.
Designation of Conservation Areas
At the meeting, the group discussed the designation of Conservation Areas. While responsibility for conservation largely rests with local councils, they are required to notify the Department for Communities whenever changes are made to Conservation Areas or Areas of Townscape Character.
Heritage at risk
The Committee has agreed to actively support two heritage buildings currently at risk: the Antrim Arms in Ballycastle and Dundonald House in Belfast. A plan to support both buildings will be developed over the coming months.
EHOD in 2026
All RSUA members will soon be invited to propose and host building tours as part of the European Heritage Open Days (EHOD) Festival, which will take place on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2026.
Last year, members organised six tours: Bushmills Courthouse; Queen’s Arcade in Belfast; the Queen’s Conservation Area in Belfast; the Strand Arts Centre in Belfast; Templemore Baths in Belfast; and the Walled Garden in Helen’s Bay.
RSUA members who would like to take part in the 2026 festival should contact Jude Faloon by emailing jude@rsua.org.uk or by phoning 0748 334 6329.
RSUA Conservation Course
The next RSUA Conservation Course will take place over five days between 25 March 2026 and 29 April 2026.
The course is designed to meet the formal accreditation criteria for the Conservation Registrant (CR) level of the RIBA Conservation Register, but will be of equal benefit to technologists, engineers, planners and other construction professionals involved in conservation work.
The Conservation Committee will next meet at 1pm on 13 May 2026 at RSUA, 2 Mount Charles, Belfast, BT7 1NZ.
