What is a Heritage Statement?

If you’re planning works to a heritage property, or to a property within a Conservation Area, your architect will likely have advised that you accompany your planning application and/or Listed Building Consent with a Heritage Statement.

Furthermore, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, part 16 – Conserving and enhancing the historic environment) stipulates that when making an application, the applicant should describe the significance of any heritage assets affected, including any contribution made by their setting (para 194). As such, many authorities often require a Heritage Statement as part of their validation criteria for proposals that affect any local heritage assets. 

A Heritage Statement is an assessment of the overall significance of the property (or ‘asset’), its setting, the wider area (particularly if in a designated Conservation Area), any neighbouring heritage assets, and ultimately, the impact of any changes proposed.

A professional and robust Heritage Statement can therefore be the clincher between success and failure and will prove to the relevant statutory authorities that the impact of the planned works has been fully considered. 

Our expert team are specialists in heritage and planning advice at all ends of the scale from intimate-scaled repair details right through to applications. The level of detail contained within a Heritage Statement will vary based on the overall significance of the asset and the scale of the works, but a good Heritage Assessment will broadly include: 

• Characterisation appraisal of the location, including key site constraints, Conversation status and any nearby heritage assets
• Detailed history of the existing building or structure with archival photographic and mapped evidence
• A summary of the planning history for the site
• Significance assessment of existing building and the contribution made by its setting
• Impact assessment detailing proposed changes and potential to affect the historic character of the asset, the area or nearby heritage assets 
• Justification and policy compliance

If you’re unsure about the heritage status of your property (and any neighbouring properties), a list of heritage assets can be found on the Historic England website. 

You can also find out more about the conservation status of your local area by visiting your local council website.

If you’d like more information about any of our projects, or would like to see our work, get in touch below.