A complete system for heritage surveys, risk assessment and action planning.

Overview

From heritage survey to evidence-led action

Many organisations do not begin by looking for a database. They begin with a practical need: to understand which buildings or heritage assets are at risk, how serious that risk is, what evidence supports the assessment, and what should happen next.

HAABase has been developed for that purpose. It is a complete survey, database, analysis and reporting system for Heritage at Risk work, listed building condition assessment and wider historic environment monitoring. It can be used to deliver a full commissioned survey, to support trained in-house surveyors, or to manage ongoing updates after the main survey has been completed.

The Handley Partnership can carry out the survey work directly, provide the HAABase database and analysis service, train client surveyors to use the method, or support a combined approach where local knowledge, officer input and specialist assessment are brought together in one structured system.

How we can help

Complete survey delivery, HAABase database management, analysis and training

The Handley Partnership is one of the UK’s leading specialist consultants in Heritage at Risk survey, listed building condition assessment and structured heritage asset analysis. HAABase brings that long-term field experience into a practical system that can be used by local authorities, national heritage bodies, estate managers, trusts and community heritage organisations.

The service can be scaled to suit the client. For some projects, The Handley Partnership undertakes the full survey, creates and manages the HAABase database, analyses the results and produces the final reports. For others, we provide the method, training, database and quality review so that the client’s own officers, consultants or volunteers can carry out the survey work consistently.

Once established, HAABase is not a static record. Approved users can provide ongoing updates as required, allowing changes in condition, occupancy, risk, repair, ownership, vulnerability or priority to be recorded over time.

Where HAABase can be used

For listed buildings, scheduled monuments and wider heritage assets

HAABase is often used for listed building condition surveys and Buildings at Risk work, but the system is not limited to listed buildings. It can be adapted for scheduled monuments, conservation area assets, industrial heritage, locally listed buildings, estate heritage, public realm features, archaeological structures and other historic environment assets.

This makes it suitable where a client needs consistent evidence across a mixed heritage asset base, especially where condition, vulnerability, risk and priority need to be compared across different asset types.

Survey method

Consistent, respectful and minimally intrusive inspection

HAABase survey work is based on consistent visual assessment, normally by rapid external inspection from public places. Where private land access is needed, consent is sought before any data collection or photography is carried out.

Digital tablet forms use mapping, structured fields and validation so that evidence is collected consistently before a record is finalised. Photographs are handled carefully, with sensitive details excluded or blurred where appropriate.

Training and quality control

Supporting client surveyors without losing consistency

Where clients wish to use their own officers, consultants or volunteers, The Handley Partnership can provide training in the HAABase survey method, risk categories, field definitions, photographic approach, update process and database workflow.

This allows local survey capacity and local knowledge to be used while maintaining a consistent evidence standard across the whole project.

Database and system outputs

Search, mapping, reporting and analysis

Approved users can search by text, filter by group, view results as lists or maps, access asset detail pages, generate reports, and analyse defined subsets by condition, risk, HAA score, defect profile, vulnerability and action priority.

Secure user access, controlled updates and API options allow client datasets to be maintained while protecting the integrity of the core records.

Ongoing updates

A living evidence base, not a one-off report

HAABase can remain in use after the initial survey. Client users can add updates as required, recording changes in condition, repair progress, occupancy, ownership, photographs, risk status, priority and action notes.

This makes HAABase especially useful for authorities and heritage bodies that need to monitor change, report progress, plan interventions and maintain an evidence base over several years.