The HHA has welcomed Government announcements, as part of the Penfold Review of planning consents, to introduce measures to simplify and reduce costs associated with the heritage protection system.
 
The Government’s proposals, some of which will be subject to further consultation, include:

• Owners of listed buildings and local authorities will be able to enter into Statutory Management Agreements which will enable works specified in such agreements to be undertaken without the need for separate applications;
• A system of prior-approval will be introduced for specified types of works to listed buildings as well as certification of Listed Building Consent applications by accredited independent agents.
• To reduce the number of unnecessary applications, the extent of a listed building’s special interest will be legally defined in its list entry; this will mean that only those parts of a building that contribute to its special interest are subject to Listed Building Consent

Speaking at the HHA’s AGM on 15 November, Heritage and Tourism Minister, John Penrose, said; “We need to improve the listed building consent system so that owners can have much more clarity and certainty about what they can and cannot do so the entire process becomes quicker, clearer and simpler to use, without weakening the overall levels of protection ."

The HHA’s Assistant Director, Frances Garnham, said: "These provisions recognise the central role of private owners in heritage management and have the potential to bring greater clarity, transparency and surety in the way in which we look after our historic resources. They recognise that sympathetic and well-managed changes are needed to secure the future of our heritage and to help them remain as integral parts of our national life as places which people want to live in, work at and visit".

Two-thirds of the built heritage is privately owned and maintained.  The HHA has consistently pressed for a review of heritage protection, to simplify and clarify the designation system whilst retaining the level of protection it provides. We are particularly pleased by the proposal to introduced Management Agreements, for which we have lobbied over a number of years. These will encourage a positive approach to longer term heritage management, promote effective partnerships between stakeholders and give certainty and clarity to those responsible for managing historic places.

The HHA will also be seeking a right of appeal by owners on designation decisions which will be a justified safeguard and will increase confidence in the new system.