What is a Heritage Statement?

A Heritage Statement or Assessment is a document that is required by conservation officers and planners to ascertain what matters about your property and why it matters from an historical point of view. This information is then used to help them come to a decision regarding the granting or refusing of a planning permission and listed building consent.

The ‘what’ relates to the history of the building, whether that be in its fabric, its design or sometimes what it represents culturally. The ‘why’ is an objective analysis of how these factors are important for those generations who will encounter the property in the future. The National Planning Policy Framework refers to to these matters as the significance of the heritage asset. Local Planning Authorities require applicants to describe the significance of their properties together with the potential impact of their proposals on that significance . Listed Property Solutions can undertake the research of your property for you, assess the implications of your plans, and present a heritage statement that best justifies the work that you are proposing.

There is a general presumption against the alteration of a listed property if it’s significance is likely to be damaged or harmed, so an early assessment of your building where an investigation of significance precedes any design or development plans can lead to a more positive outcome with the Conservation Officer and the Local Planning Authority.