NI Environment Minister Edwin Poots has chaired a meeting of powerful decision makers on the future of Northern Ireland's built heritage.

The Built Heritage Stakeholder’s Forum is an influential body of leaders from across Northern Ireland, which focuses on the contribution of historic buildings and historic monuments to the economy and society.

The creation of the forum was announced during the 'Windows of Opportunity Conference' in May 2008, by the former Environment Minister, Arlene Foster. This was its third meeting

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Mr Poots said: "Our local built heritage plays an important role in galvanising tourism, economic development and community pride and this forum plays the strategic role in assessing how our historic environment can be utilised to achieve its maximum potential."

The forum is made up of local authorities, senior members of the business community, the Construction Employers Federation, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, other government departments and the chairmen of the Historic Buildings Council and the Historic Monuments Council.

The Minister continued: "The forum will assist my Department in driving policy direction, as well as developing their understanding of what the built heritage can offer to our economy and society."

Among the main issues discussed at the meeting were the implementation of the Built Heritage Strategic Plan, and how the character of conservation areas and areas of townscape character may be protected and enhanced.

NS