Heritage statements are required for:
- applications for Listed Building Consent;
- planning applications affecting a Listed Building or its curtilage;
- planning application within or affecting a Conservation Area (except for single storey rear extensions to dwellings);
- planning application affecting nationally and locally designated parks and gardens;
- planning application affecting a Scheduled Monument or its setting; or
- planning application affecting undesignated heritage assets that are recorded on the Historic Environment Record including:
- known archaeological sites
- known historic buildings
Heritage statements must describe the significance of any historic assets which will be affected by a development. In order to understand the significance of any historic asset, the Government has confirmed that the statement should, as a minimum, set out the findings from consulting the Historic Environment Record.
Where a site on which development is proposed includes, or has the potential to include, heritage assets with archaeological interest, the statement should also include an appropriate desk-based assessment and, where necessary, a field evaluation.
The level of detail in a Heritage Statement should be proportionate to the assets’ importance and no more than is sufficient to understand the potential impact of the proposal on their significance. Consideration of the impact of the proposal upon a heritage asset should normally include any impacts from changing the use of the property or land.
Where there are proposals to replace modern features, the Heritage Statement should describe the significance of the proposed works by explaining what would have been in place before the modern features were installed or constructed, and how the replacement features will enhance its significance.
More detailed advice is given below in relation to specific types of heritage assets.