MORE than 100 city planners, landscape architects and conservationists from across the UK are meeting in York today.

York City Council’s West Offices are hosting the conference on the theme of Putting constructive conservation at the heart of place making.

Delegates will be given a detailed tour of the building, courtesy of York developer S Harrison, which completed the renovation, and City of York Council. The conference will demonstrate that “historic no longer means redundant” according to organisers, with West Offices acting as an example.

Neil Redfern, principal inspector for English Heritage said: “Rather than looking at heritage and landscape as a constraint we are hoping delegates will understand these issues lend themselves to creative solutions.

“We are keen to explore during the day the art of the possible approach to planning and development.”