AABC Conference at Bradford Cathedral

By Louise Priestman

I recently attended this year’s AABC (Architects Accredited in Building Conservation) Conference, held at Bradford Cathedral. As both a Director of the AABC and a member of its Management Team, it was a pleasure to take part in a day that brought together conservation Architects and those aspiring to join the AABC register.

The programme included a range of talks and case studies exploring sustainable conservation, the use of traditional materials and how new design can be sensitively integrated within historic settings. There was also much discussion about environmental performance, policy updates and the ongoing challenge of balancing repair, reuse and energy efficiency in heritage projects including the nearby Heritage Action Zone (HAZ).

For me, one of the highlights of the day was the tour of Bradford Cathedral. It was fascinating to see first-hand how conservation priorities are managed alongside tight budgets, with thoughtful planning and creative solutions.

Bradford was also the first cathedral in the country to install photovoltaic panels, a pioneering step that has since inspired others, including York Minster, to explore similar sustainable approaches. It was encouraging to see how these early efforts have had such a positive influence across the sector. I look forward to developing such proposals for Blackburn Cathedral.

The conference was an excellent opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, share ideas and reflect on the evolving challenges and opportunities within building conservation and I look forward to the next conference in 2026.