The IHBC has welcomed the consultation by English Heritage (EH) on three draft best practice papers relating to the historic environment in local plans, decision making in the historic environment and the setting of heritage assets, all with a closing date of 5 September.
EH writes
These are intended to assist local planning authorities, planning and other consultants, owners, applicants and other interested parties in implementing historic environment policy in the National Planning Policy Framework and the related guidance given in the Planning Practice Guidance, recently published by the Government.
We particularly seek views from those engaged in the planning system as it relates to the historic environment as applicants and developers, heritage and/or planning expert practitioners, local planning authorities and members of local and national amenity groups.
These documents have been developed by English Heritage working closely with a drafting group from the Historic Environment Forum. Bodies involved include the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers, the British Property Federation, Civic Voice, the Council for British Archaeology, the Country Land and Business Association, the Heritage Alliance, the Historic Houses Association, the Historic Towns Forum, the Joint Committee of National Amenity Societies, the Institute for Archaeologists, the Institute of Historic Building Conservation and the National Trust. These organisations have not formally endorsed the texts but are content for the consultation to proceed.
These documents, along with some additional more detailed information (termed Technical Advice in Planning) will replace both the PPS 5 Planning and the Historic Environment: Historic Environment Planning Practice Guide (2010) and various pieces of English Heritage guidance, as part of a wider guidance review the organisation is currently carrying out.
Sections of this advice, both Good Practice and Technical, have previously been published and the replacement notes have been prepared to express the same principles more succinctly. No increase or reduction in protection is therefore implied.
Technical Advice in Planning notes are planned on Neighbourhood Planning and the historic environment: Improve your Neighbourhood; Enabling Development and the historic environment; Managing Change to Heritage Assets (formerly Part 6 of the PPS 5 Practice Guide); Local Designation; and Conservation Area Designation, Appraisal and Management. Others may be developed on further subjects.
View full details of the consultations and how to respond on the EH website
