About Tayside Building Preservation Trust
Tayside Building Preservation Trust is constituted as a charitable company, limited by guarantee, whose objectives are to acquire, restore and find long term uses and owners for buildings of architectural and historic importance throughout Tayside. The present Trust grew out of the Dundee Building Preservation Trust, which was formed to save the Sea Captain's House and Calender Works, Dundee, from demolition.
After the completion of this project in 1995, the Trust changed its name and widened its area of operation. This now covers the administrative areas of Angus Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Dundee City Council and the North East Fife area of Fife Council. The charitable status of the Trust gives it unique advantages in harnessing a variety of methods of financing the conservation of historic buildings, particularly those which are unattractive to the private or public sectors.
The TBPT has close links with the Postgraduate Course in European Urban Conservation at the University of Dundee and the relationship is very beneficial to both Parties. Neil Grieve, the course director, is also the Trust's Chief Executive and manages the Trust from within the college. Many of the postgraduate students become closely involved and undertake practical work for the Trust, varying from day to day administration, to feasibility and development work. With the full support of staff, a number of students elect to tailor their course-work submissions to undertake projects which are of benefit to the Trust. Some also decide to work for the Trust during their six week work placement.
The success of this relationship can be measured by the fact that the Trust has in the past been able to offer employment to graduates of the course and awards two 'Trust scholarships' in which students with appropriate skills have their course fees paid by the Trust in return for assistance with developing the Trust's agenda. The Trust also offers prizes. The best student on the EUC course is given a place on English Heritage's measured survey summer school, while awards of £100 are given to the undergraduate Schools of Planning and Architecture for the most appropriate conservation based projects. The Trust, along with the postgraduate course, is a key element within Dundee University's emerging Centre for Conservation and Urban Studies.
