1. Special places, spaces and
stories in cities – turning the
acquisition policy on its head
The Birmingham Journey

2. The National Trust
Acquisition Policy
Statement of Principles
1. The property must be of national importance
because it is outstanding for its natural beauty or
natural or historic interest.
2. Ownership by the Trust should increase benefit to
the nation.
3. The property should normally be under threat.
4. The property will not be acquired unless the Trust is
the most appropriate owner.
5. The property may be acquired to protect an existing
property of inalienable standard.
6. The property should be, and should be expected to
remain, financially self-supporting.

3. The Birmingham Approach
to Acquisition
• Begin with the audience to develop a concept that
may lead to a acquisition
• Redefine how we think about ‘significance’ in terms
of modern/urban heritage
• Emphasis on people in relation to place
• If we are committed to attracting large, urban
audiences in a sustained way we have to work with
them in partnership

4. The Birmingham Journey
B11 Stories
Consultation ? Pay for entry site
GAP Fundraising
Testing new products Small Shop Front Open in
Whose Story? Grant bid to HLF
within all to enable Sparkbrook & Sparkhill
Back to Backs
Workstreams
Home Office Youth work
TMP Stories
2005 2012/13 2013/14 2015? 2020

5. From People to Place
What we have learnt since 2006 is:
• What we think is ‘special’ or ‘significant’
may not the same for TMP communities
• Income & transport an issue
• The environment not welcoming
• Relevance to their history and perspective
• The countryside etiquette unfamiliar
• Perception & Representation

6. Defining ‘significant’
Means different things to different people
Can be influenced by many things:
 age
 background
 ethnicity
 social class
 life experience
 where you live…etc…etc….

7. ‘Exploring the lives of non-
rejecters’
From our baseline research we know that there are:
• People who claim that arts, heritage or landscape is
important to them
• Seek new experiences
• Want to extend existing experiences in leisure time
• Identify 20 households from previous research
• We know they will mainly be from Asian Identities
• Explore ‘turn-ons’ and ‘turn-off’s through in-depth 90
min interviews using stimuli
• Develop concepts for soft consultations based on
outcomes

8. Stakeholder Engagement
What stakeholders have told
us:
• Build up trust & relationships with
• communities
• Ensure a presence
• Partnerships & joint working
• Several opportunities offered:
– volunteering
– school engagement
– organising joint events

9. Activity
Thinking about your segments, what
have you learnt about their special
place?
Is it what you expected?

10. Next Steps
• Consolidate what we have learnt
so far – identify emerging themes
• More information from research to
inform concept design
• Oakmobile
• Discussions with Birmingham
Council
• Development of land in B11 area
• Sponsorship of local carnivals

11. Questions?