The conservation of historic areas in the UK: A case study of “Grainger Town”, Newcastle upon Tyne

Conservation in the UK is generally regarded as having undergone a sea-change in the late 1960s and early 1970s, as policy- and decision-makers retreated from comprehensive development and embraced conservation. Using part of the city centre of Newcastle upon Tyne as a case study, this article examines this thesis. Beneath simple measures, such as the amount of the city centre which is classified as historic, a more complex picture emerges. A framework for interventions in the historic environment is theorised and there is found to be a continuing tension between conservation approaches which seek to visually manage the city and those which place stress on historic fabric and morphology.