University of Ulster lecturer Ken Boston has been appointed to the Historic Buildings Council (HBC), the statutory body advising government departments on historic building issues.

The Council’s role is to advise the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland on the listing and delisting of buildings, listed building consent, buildings preservation notices, urgent works to preserve buildings, Conservation Areas and matters of the industrial and defence heritage. 

Mr Boston is course director for Building Surveying programmes in the  School of the Built Environment at Jordanstown. He is also a Chartered Building Surveyor.

Professor Ian Montgomery, Dean of the Faculty of Art Design and the Built Environment said: “Given that this appointment has been made by open competition it is noteworthy that the Faculty of Art Design and the Built Environment is represented on this important advisory group.”

The Historic Buildings Council also offers advice to other government departments such as DARD, DRD and DCAL. In practice much of the Council's advice is channelled through the Department's Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Planning Service.

The Historic Buildings Council was established in 1974 under the provisions of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1972. This was subsequently repealed and an amended Planning (NI) Order was passed in 1991. Other legislation affecting Council's role includes the Planning (General Development) Order 1992 and Planning Amendment Bill 2004.

The appointment is for a period of up to six years and is unremunerated. The Council is chaired by Frank Robinson.