news : draft new policy statement on the historic environment

On 24 July 2009 the Government published a consultation paper on a proposed new Planning Policy Statement (PPS) aimed to conserve and enhance the historic environment.  The new PPS15: ‘Planning for the Historic Environment’ will replace existing Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs) 15 and 16 on historic environment and archaeological issues.  It takes account of the commitment in the recent White Paper, Planning for a Sustainable Future, to streamline existing PPGs and PPSs and separate out policy from guidance.  The new PPS will be accompanied by a Planning Practice Guide prepared by English Heritage.  Both the draft PPS and Practice Guide are currently out for consultation until 30 October 2009.

The draft PPS flows from the Government’s commitment to reform particular aspects of the heritage protection system.  Its intentions are based on three central principles as set out in its White Paper, ‘Heritage Protection for the 21^st Century’:

• the need to develop a unified approach to the historic environment;
• maximising opportunities for public inclusion and involvement;
• supporting sustainable communities by putting the historic environment at the heart of an effective planning system;

It claims to be the first integrated planning policy for protecting the historic environment, archaeology, historic areas, buildings and landscapes and encourages the use of the historic environment as an asset, not an obstacle to development.

The new draft PPS seeks to ensure that:

• there is a focus on understanding what is significant about a building, site or landscape so that it becomes easier to determine the impact of the proposed changes;
• Councils monitor all the historic assets and make publicly available historic environment records;
• heritage features are exploited as an asset rather than as a potential barrier to development;
• it introduces clearer policies on setting and design;
• assesses loss of enhancement of an historic asset and its setting against benefits accruing from increased production of energy from low or zero carbon sources;
• combines all types of heritage into one document;
• encourages pre-application discussion;
• maintains the same level of protection for the historic environment as the current PPGs 15 and 16 but in a more succinct manner;
• provides greater clarity on key topics.

The draft English Heritage Practice Guide provides advice, ideas and examples of good practice and other sources of information to assist planning authorities, developers and local communities to manage the historic environment.

The draft PPS15 can be found at: www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/ consultationshistoricpps. 

The accompanying English Heritage Practice Guide can be found at: www.english-heritage.org.uk/pps

If you have any queries about the proposed new PPS and accompanying English Heritage Practice Guide or on any proposed planning, Conservation Area or Listed Building application or on any proposal likely to impact on the historic environment, please contact JWPC Ltd.