What is a Heritage Statement
A Heritage Statement is a document that describes the historical and cultural importance of a place. It is required to be submitted with any planning applications that could affect a heritage asset, such as a listed building, conservation area, historic park or garden, archaeological site, or non-designated heritage asset.
Purpose of a Heritage Statement
The purpose of a Heritage Statement is to:
- Describe the significance of the heritage asset(s)
- Assess the potential impact of the proposed development on the heritage asset(s)
- Justify the proposed development if it will harm the heritage asset(s)
What should be included in a Heritage Statement
At a minimum, the Heritage Statement should include:
- A description of the heritage asset(s) that will be affected by the proposed development
- An assessment of the significance of the heritage asset(s)
- An explanation of how the proposed development will affect the heritage asset(s)
- A justification for the proposed development if it will harm the heritage asset(s)
Where to find information for a Heritage Statement
The following resources can be consulted to gather information for a Heritage Statement:
- The Historic Environment Record (HER)
- Local libraries
- Local archives
- Conservation area appraisals
- Experts in heritage assessment
Additional Notes
- The level of detail in the Heritage Statement should be proportionate to the importance of the heritage asset.
- A suitable expert should be engaged to provide an assessment of the significance of the heritage where appropriate.
- The heritage statement should give particular consideration to how the proposals meet the requirements of NPPF paragraph 194 as appropriate.