Portaferry Man Appointed to Historic Buildings Council

A Portaferry man has been included in the recent Historic Buildings Council appointments list.  Environment Minister, Alex Attwood, today announced the appointment of seven new members, and the re-appointment of seven existing members to the Historic Buildings Council (HBC) for a three-year term, effective from 1 March 2013. New appointee Joseph Birt has vast experience of building conservation methods in his role as Building Controls ‘Specialist Support Officer’ for the South Eastern Group of Councils, with valuable first-hand experience of local councils and councillors. He is the Chairman of the Association of Building Engineers in Northern Ireland and has a detailed understanding of the legislation which applies to the wider built environment and specifically how it impacts upon the conservation sector. He currently sits on the DFP’s ‘Northern Ireland Building Regulations Advisory Committee’, and is a Director of the William Keown Charitable Trust, which promotes the rights of people with disabilities. Alex Attwood said: “The work of the HBC is often quietly done but crucial for the protection and development of our built heritage. The ‘14’ members are dedicated, working to maintain a key element of the character of our lives and economic opportunity, particularly tourism. The work of the HBC is often unseen – its impact is very visible in the scale and value of our built heritage.” Established in 1973, the Historic Buildings Council is a statutory advisory council which provides advice to the Department of the Environment on the exercise of its powers under the Planning (NI) Order 1991.]]>