Dr James Weir

With nearly 20 years' experience in the public and private sectors, James is an expert in historic environment policy and practice. His twin passions are the appropriate conservation of our rich array of heritage assets and the successful integration of high-quality, modern design into historic settings, whether through adaptation or new-build, so that the best of our own time is legible in the palette of history. 

Until December 2022, James was Senior Conservation Officer at Dorset Council, providing specialist heritage advice on the emerging Local Plan, Neighbourhood Plans, major planning applications and council-wide strategic and capital projects. He was also a driving force in the Council's recent government-funded Local Heritage List project. 

From January 2023, James has been an Associate Director in the heritage team at Terence O'Rourke, where his focus is on expanding and maintaining the consultancy's high standard of professional heritage services across the country. 

Previous roles include as a building surveyor in private practice and for the National Trust and 10 years as a self-employed historic buildings consultant, during which time he achieved his doctorate in Architectural History from Kellogg College, Oxford. He has had many 'extra-curricular' roles, including the Executive and Guardians Committees of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, and the Executive and Planning Committees of the Bournemouth Civic Society.