Emma Birkett, Heritage Director

Posted on 10 Jun 2025

Introducing the RDA’s Heritage Director, Emma Birkett.

Emma is a qualified architect with over 25 years’ experience delivering complex heritage projects across the UK. She leads the RDA’s specialist heritage team, bringing Rochdale’s historic buildings back to life through careful restoration, community engagement, and strategic funding. From Rochdale Town Hall to Touchstones and Tonge Hall, Emma’s work is all about preserving the past while creating spaces for the future.

Tell me a bit about yourself.

I’m a qualified architect and have been working as a project manager and director for over 25 years, with a particular focus on historic buildings. From the very start of my career, I’ve been involved in some of the earliest Lottery-funded heritage restoration projects, working on buildings that are not just architecturally significant but also deeply embedded in the history and identity of their communities. My work has taken me all over the UK, and I’ve had the privilege of playing a role in the preservation and regeneration of some of the country’s finest buildings.

What is your role with the RDA?

As Heritage Director, I lead the RDA’s highly specialist heritage team, which is responsible for bringing historic buildings back to life. Our work is about much more than construction—we manage projects from the earliest stages, identifying opportunities, securing funding, and assembling the right teams of consultants and contractors. We also focus on community engagement and training programmes, ensuring that local people have a chance to connect with and benefit from the restoration of their heritage. It’s a multi-faceted role that requires a strategic approach, a strong understanding of heritage funding, and the ability to see a project through from concept to completion.

Why did you choose to work with the RDA?

The RDA has a fantastic reputation for delivering ambitious projects, even in challenging circumstances. Heritage-led regeneration can be incredibly complex, but the RDA has a track record of getting things done and making a real difference to Rochdale and its surrounding areas. I was particularly drawn to the opportunity to work on the restoration of Rochdale Town Hall and Town Hall Square—a landmark project that has transformed the heart of the town. Seeing the space brought back to life and celebrated as one of the finest civic buildings in the country has been hugely rewarding.

What projects do you work on?

Rochdale is home to many historic buildings, all at different stages of their restoration journey. Right now, we are working on Touchstones and Broadfield Park Slopes, which are both on-site and due for completion in the next year. These projects will enhance key public spaces and cultural assets in the town. Meanwhile, we are beginning the early-stage work on Tonge Hall and Hopwood Hall, two historic buildings that require careful surveying and assessment before restoration can truly begin. Every building has its own challenges, from structural issues to funding complexities, but each one represents an opportunity to preserve and celebrate Rochdale’s heritage.

What do you really enjoy about your profession?

I love the problem-solving aspect of heritage projects. Each one is like a giant, complex jigsaw puzzle, with different challenges to solve: How do we make this site work financially? What does it need to be fit for purpose and future-proofed? Where will the funding come from? Who is the right team to bring it to life? And how do we balance historical integrity with modern needs? Once all those pieces are in place, the actual delivery on-site is incredibly rewarding. No two projects are ever the same, and that keeps things fresh and exciting. Heritage work requires patience—sometimes projects can take years to come to fruition—but when you see the finished result and the impact it has on a community, it’s all worth it.

What makes you get up in the morning?

Without a doubt, the team I work with. We are a close-knit group of specialists who have worked together through all sorts of challenges, from funding uncertainties to construction surprises. In the heritage sector, you have to be resilient and adaptable, and having a strong team around you makes all the difference. We share a real passion for what we do, and that keeps us motivated, no matter how complicated a project might be.

Tell me something people don’t know about you.

I once led the restoration of the largest in situ fixed steam engine in the world. It was a fascinating project—technically challenging but incredibly rewarding. Restoring something on that scale required a deep understanding of engineering, materials, and historical significance, as well as a lot of patience! It’s one of those projects that sticks with you, both because of its sheer scale and the sense of achievement that comes with bringing a piece of industrial history back to life.