Assessing the impact of urban conservation policy and practice: the Chester experience 1955-96

This paper seeks to examine the impact of the protective measures which have evolved over the past thirty years to maintain, the character and appearance of historic centres. The implementation of this legislation has not been straightforward, largely due to the subjectivity and sensitivity of the issues involved, and little attempt has been made to analyse impact on the ground. This issue is addressed through an examination of firstly the evolving context of legislation, guidance and wider social, economic and cultural forces; and then an example of the response to this context in a case study of Chester.