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Heritage Reform

Heritage Protection Bill

Key Benefits
The Draft Bill would reform and unify the terrestrial and marine heritage protection systems in England and Wales, and the marine heritage protection system in Northern Ireland.

The Draft Bill would put in place a unified heritage protection system that is easier to understand and use, more efficient, accountable and transparent, and maximises opportunities for public inclusion and involvement.

It would remove unhelpful distinctions between different designation regimes (listing, scheduling, registering) to deliver a system that works for the whole historic environment.

It would place decision-making powers where they sit most naturally, devolving terrestrial designation decisions on assets in England from the Secretary of State to English Heritage, and unifying consents for works to terrestrial assets which will be administered by Local Authorities in England and in Wales by Local Authorities and Welsh Ministers as appropriate.

Supporting sustainable communities by putting the historic environment at the heart of an effective planning system.

Heritage Reform
Territorial Extent
England and Wales
Heritage Reform

The terrestrial elements of the Draft Bill will apply to England and Wales; the marine elements will apply to England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and are capable of applying to Scotland.

Related Documents

  • The Historic Environment: A Force for our Future (December 2001)
  • Protecting our historic environment: Making the system work better consultation (July 2003)
  • The Protection of Historical Assets in Wales consultation (2003)
  • Review of heritage protection: the way forward decision paper (June 2004)
  • Consultation on Ecclesiastical Exemption
    Consultation on Marine Heritage
    Workshops, working groups and pilot projects
  • Government Response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee Report on Protecting and Preserving Our Heritage (October 2006)
  • White Paper Heritage Protection for the 21st Century (March 2007)
  • White Paper analysis of consultation responses (forthcoming)