Understanding Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA)
Tywi Centre
Monday 21 July and Monday 17 November 2025
£150Writing High-Quality Heritage Impact Assessments
Essential training for anyone involved in Listed Building Consent applications in Wales
Course Overview
If you’re involved in making changes to listed buildings, you’ll know that a well-written Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is not just a requirement—it’s a vital part of understanding, explaining, and justifying change in the historic environment. This practical, hands-on course will guide you through the process of creating and evaluating high-quality HIAs that meet policy and legal standards while genuinely supporting good conservation outcomes.
We’ll cover both the theory and real-world application of HIAs—helping you build the confidence and skills to produce assessments that are thorough, clearly presented, and tailored to each unique heritage asset.
Who Should Attend?
This course is ideal for anyone who prepares or reviews Heritage Impact Assessments, including:
- Architects
- Conservation officers
- Planning consultants
- Heritage professionals
- Surveyors and project managers working in the historic environment
What You’ll Learn
- The policy and legal framework behind HIAs
- Where to find and how to use reliable information and evidence
- How to assess and explain the significance of a historic asset
- What makes a good HIA: structure, clarity, and content
- How to identify, assess and manage impact—balancing constraints and opportunities
- Best practice in managing change sensitively and sustainably
- How to present your findings in a clear, professional, and persuasive way
Why It Matters
Producing a strong HIA can be the key to gaining Listed Building Consent—and to ensuring that change is appropriate, defensible, and in keeping with the historic character of a site. This course will help you do just that.
Book your tickets here:
Monday 21 July 2025
Monday 17 November 2025
Meet the Tutor – Nell Hellier
If you’re thinking of joining a course at the Tywi Centre, then getting the chance to learn from Nell Hellier is a real bonus.
Nell has been at the heart of the Tywi Centre since 2008 and is now the Senior Built Heritage Officer for Carmarthenshire County Council. With over 15 years of experience in traditional building conservation, she brings a wealth of knowledge, practical insight, and infectious enthusiasm to everything she teaches.
As leader of the Built Heritage Team, Nell plays a key role in supporting the repair and care of historic buildings across the county. But what really sets Nell apart is her ability to make conservation meaningful and accessible—whether she’s working with homeowners, craftspeople, or fellow professionals.
She lives in an old building herself, so she truly understands the real-life challenges (and joys!) of looking after heritage properties. Her teaching blends expert guidance with practical, honest advice—and she always brings a friendly, down-to-earth approach to the classroom.
Whether you’re completely new to conservation or looking to sharpen your knowledge, Nell’s courses are informative, supportive, and genuinely inspiring. You’ll come away with new skills, confidence, and a deeper appreciation of Wales’s rich built heritage.
