{"id":48501,"date":"2026-10-27T15:50:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T15:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=48501"},"modified":"2026-10-26T13:49:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T13:49:28","slug":"ihbc-welcomes-government-response-to-dcms-committee-inquiry-into-protecting-built-heritage-supportive-statements-but-little-detail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=48501","title":{"rendered":"IHBC welcomes Government response to DCMS Committee inquiry into \u2018Protecting built heritage\u2026\u2019: \u2026 supportive statements but little detail\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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IHBC Chair David McDonald OBE has welcomed the Government response to the recent Parliamentary Committee\u2019s inquiry into protecting built heritage but, on behalf of the IHBC, raised concerns about the lack of \u2018detailed proposals for change\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

IHBC Chair David McDonald OBE said: \u2018As 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.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018The fallback position is an over-reliance on existing initiatives and the new NPPF.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018One 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 \u2018Climate Change and Significance\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018There is also a welcome recognition of skills shortages, but no significant changes in local planning authority capacity.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018One small potential improvement in protection is the proposal to consult on removal of permitted development rights for the demolition of Assets of Community Value’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Government writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Government welcomes the DCMS Select Committee\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s challenges. Where buildings have fallen out of use, it means finding them a new purpose that meets today\u2019s needs, keeping them alive through re-use and regeneration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s wider goal of supporting growth in every postcode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u00a3200 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have grouped recommendations by theme in this response and have summarised our proposed actions at the end of the document\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See full details at<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the report here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

See the IHBC response to this and other consultations HERE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

See more background on our NewsBlog<\/a> service at<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 IHBC welcomes CMS Parliamentary Cttee. conclusion on \u2018Protecting built heritage\u2019 & nod to our \u20185 Commitments\u2019: \u2018\u2026deterioration of heritage\u2026 a major missed opportunity\u2019<\/a>
\u2022 CMS Select Committee: Oral evidence from HE concerning Protecting Built Heritage<\/a>
\u2022 IHBC welcomes publication of responses to CMS Parliamentary Inquiry on \u2018Protecting Built Heritage\u2019<\/a>
\u2022 CMS Select Committee update on protecting built heritage, hear calls for end to \u2018boom and bust\u2019 heritage funding<\/a>
\u2022 CMS Parliamentary Committee Inquiry call for evidence: \u2018Protecting built heritage\u2019\u2026 Importance & Barriers, open to 3 February 2025<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

IHBC Chair David McDonald OBE has welcomed the Government response to the recent Parliamentary Committee\u2019s inquiry into protecting built heritage but, on behalf of the IHBC, raised concerns about the lack of \u2018detailed proposals for change\u2019.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[784,729,916,703],"class_list":["post-48501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ihbc-newsblog","tag-built-heritage","tag-dcms","tag-government-uk","tag-nppf"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=48501"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48501\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48502,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48501\/revisions\/48502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=48501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=48501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=48501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}