HERITAGE STATEMENTS
Heritage Statements /Assessments of Significance/Heritage Impact Reports
The survey should ideally be carried out at pre app stage, BEFORE you design a scheme, so the changes can be heritage led and therefore evolve around our findings, satisfying conservation policies and LPA conservation teams.
Planning Policy NPPF says…”Heritage statements/assessments should be prepared by an appropriate professional with the necessary expertise to properly assess the heritage asset and its significance. As full IHBC members we have the necessary qualifications and we are professionally required to give an honest opinion. For buildings or sites of high significance [e.g. for nationally designated heritage assets/listed buildings] it is recommended that the assessment be prepared by an accredited qualified heritage consultants. It is required under legislation National Planning Policy Framework Updated 2026 HE5 [NPPF] in England that an understanding of the history and fabric of a building, and what makes it special architecturally, historically, its exterior elevations and it’s setting, this includes the interiors, including historic fixtures and fittings, is necessary when making changes. NPPF Updated 2026 policy HE5 paragraph 1 states “assets assessed using appropriate expertise”
RDA Initial CALL OUT CHARGE is £150 + Travel depending on location. Call out includes looking at your enquiry/paperwork/basic research time and proposal. Note this is should be a staged approach so assessing significance should come first before impact can be assessed and some mitigation maybe needed to get approved consent.
An RDA ASSESSMENT REPORT INVOLVES TWO PARTS
After initial site visit and basic research we carry out Part 1 historical research and an impartial assessment of significance on site via a survey of the building/s, external and internal fabric, to assess the historic fabric and architectural features for their significance proportionate to how much change is proposed. We then use a traffic light grading system of what is most important to retain, its condition, and also what is having a negative impact to the fabric and building/s.
OUR SURVEYS can aid and inform you in the development of a scheme for sympathetic redevelopment or conservation repair/adaptation. We then look and discuss your proposal and provide an Heritage Impact Assessment Part 2 for the homeowner or developer, using data from our initial research and on site survey that may then involve some mitigation to regenerate and reuse an historic site complimenting what exists.
We have found this has the best planning outcomes for all, when involving sensitive listed buildings and non-designated heritage assets and buildings in conservation areas and is most likely to have favourable outcomes and planning consent.
Our Heritage Assessments and Impact Assessments then accompany listed building consents for planning with usually a successful outcome for the applicant and historic buildings and sites. Note it is the LPA who has the final decision.
We can also give advice, support and can liaise, negotiate and develop relationships with planning officers, consultees, interested organisations, third parties and fellow professionals.
HISTORIC ENGLAND ADVISES….”In summary, what is needed is an impartial analysis of significance and the contribution of setting. A Statement of Heritage Significance is not an advocacy document, seeking to justify a scheme which has already been designed; it is more an objective analysis of significance, an opportunity to describe what matters and why, in terms of heritage significance.” Ref HE Statements of Heritage Significance:Analysing Significance in Heritage Assets October 2019
“Where the significance is not obvious, appropriate expertise would need to be used. Analysis would generally be undertaken by a suitably qualified specialist, expert in an appropriate branch of conservation, architectural history, garden history and/or archaeology, or, in more complex circumstances, group of specialists, who can describe significance in a way which is acceptable to the local planning authority and which therefore assists a successful application.” Ref HE Statements of Heritage Significance:Analysing Significance in Heritage Assets October 2019
RDA is an IHBC FULL member
Understanding Historic Buildings Policy and Guidance for Local Planning Authorities EH 2008
This document is referred to as suggested reference in “Managing Significance in Decision-Taking in the Historic Environment Historic Environment Good Practice Advice in Planning: 2” Historic England 2015
