Government launches new heritage plan

Monday, 28 June 2004 12:00 AM

The Government has unveiled a set of new proposals, designed to protect the UK's heritage.

The package of proposals includes the creation of a new "super register" of all protected buildings, monuments, parks, gardens and battlefields; and new rights for owners of period property, including statutory consultation and a right of appeal.

The Heritage Minister, Andrew McIntosh said the measures are aimed at "updating the system to make it fit for purpose for the 21st century".

He said that governmental consultation showed there was "near unanimity" on the main issues.

Overall, many felt "the current system is not open enough or easy enough to understand", he said.

The Department for Culture Media and Sport reports that 96 per cent of respondents supported plans to make the listing process more open and 85 per cent believed that a unified list would improve existing arrangements.

As such, the primary changes proposed include the creation of a new unified "Register of Historic Sites and Buildings of England", bringing together listing, scheduling and registration and incorporating World Heritage Sites. It will also contain a "local section" recording conservation areas, local lists and registers.

The Government also proposes to transfer responsibility for making designation decisions at a national level to English Heritage, subject to certain safeguards. The safeguards include a requirement for English Heritage to act within published Government policies and criteria for designation, and the Secretary of State will retain a power to call in exceptional cases for her decisions. Owners will also have a new statutory right of appeal.

Lord McIntosh said: "These measures add up to an improved system of heritage management, which is open, transparent ... and will stand the test of time."

He added: "This now is the way forward.

"Our current system of heritage protection is second to none. If it did not exist, the landscape of England today would be a vastly different, and infinitely poorer one. But improvements can be made.

"There is too much overlap between safeguards that have built up over time, and not enough transparency. We need a more open, more effective system. We need to enable and manage change where necessary to ensure that old buildings and public spaces are put to productive new uses, while retaining a robust level of protection for our historic assets. We need to breathe new life into an old regime."

"The Government wants to make it easier for the owners and tenants of heritage properties to take pride in their conservation and care. One way to do this is to provide better information about what makes their property special and how to keep it in good condition. We want to open up the system by offering a one-stop shop for applications and enquiries, providing information in a clear and comprehensible form, and offering the opportunity to request a review of listing decisions."

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