IHBC Chair David McDonald OBE has welcomed the Government response to the recent Parliamentary Committee’s inquiry into protecting built heritage but, on behalf of the IHBC, raised concerns about the lack of ‘detailed proposals for change’.
IHBC Chair David McDonald OBE said: ‘As might be expected from government, there are many supportive statements relating to the value of heritage and its contribution to regeneration and placemaking, but rather less on detailed proposals for change.’
‘The fallback position is an over-reliance on existing initiatives and the new NPPF.’
‘One very positive part of the response is the recognition of the value in building re-use and regeneration. This chimes in well with the theme of recent and coming IHBC Annual Schools, including our 2027 School in Bristol next June, tackling the challenge of managing across ‘Climate Change and Significance’.
‘There is also a welcome recognition of skills shortages, but no significant changes in local planning authority capacity.’
‘One small potential improvement in protection is the proposal to consult on removal of permitted development rights for the demolition of Assets of Community Value’.
The Government writes:
This Government welcomes the DCMS Select Committee’s report on protecting built heritage, published on 13th July 2026. In particular we are grateful to the Committee for their recognition of the significant social, cultural and economic value of our heritage, and for their thoughtful and insightful recommendations on how its full potential can be unlocked.
Our built heritage is a physical link to the generations that came before. It defines who we are as a nation and stands at the centre of our communities. Seventy-nine percent of people say local history and heritage is an important factor in making their area a good place to live…
We strongly agree with the evidence that many witnesses presented to the Committee: the best way to protect our built heritage is to keep it in use. Protecting our heritage buildings does not mean preserving them in aspic. It means conserving them and adapting them to meet today’s challenges. Where buildings have fallen out of use, it means finding them a new purpose that meets today’s needs, keeping them alive through re-use and regeneration.
In the Re-Wiring the State announcement, this Government has set out its ambition to fundamentally re-shape the relationship between local and national government. We do not seek to mandate local planning, housing or heritage strategies. Instead we aim to get the balance right by setting a national framework that supports strategic and local authorities when they are thinking about the best approach for heritage in their places, informed by local needs, priorities and strategies. In this way, historic buildings which form the heart of community identity can also sit at the heart of ambitious plans for future growth, development and regeneration.
Through our reform of planning policy and our new funding schemes, we are committed to securing the sustainable future of our built heritage. Whether that is castles, industrial buildings, places of worship or the public estate, across every community in the country, contributing to the Government’s wider goal of supporting growth in every postcode.
Some areas of the country need additional support to make good use of their heritage buildings in the present day and to protect those buildings that are most at risk. We are doing just that through our multi-year spending review settlement of nearly £200 million for heritage. This funding is being prioritised to parts of the country facing the highest levels of deprivation and with the greatest need for investment, ensuring that funding goes to the places that need it the most.
We have grouped recommendations by theme in this response and have summarised our proposed actions at the end of the document…
See full details at
See the IHBC response to this and other consultations HERE
See more background on our NewsBlog service at
• IHBC welcomes CMS Parliamentary Cttee. conclusion on ‘Protecting built heritage’ & nod to our ‘5 Commitments’: ‘…deterioration of heritage… a major missed opportunity’
• CMS Select Committee: Oral evidence from HE concerning Protecting Built Heritage
• IHBC welcomes publication of responses to CMS Parliamentary Inquiry on ‘Protecting Built Heritage’
• CMS Select Committee update on protecting built heritage, hear calls for end to ‘boom and bust’ heritage funding
• CMS Parliamentary Committee Inquiry call for evidence: ‘Protecting built heritage’… Importance & Barriers, open to 3 February 2025
