Heritage statements

What is a Heritage Statement?

A Heritage Statement is a document required when seeking planning permission involving a heritage asset. A Heritage Statement will accompany a planning application and will describe the history and significance of the relevant heritage asset or assets. It will describe the proposed works and their potential impact. Heritage Statements seek to justify the proposed works in order to ensure that the important aspects of a heritage asset are preserved for the future.

As Heritage Consultants, we work alongside our clients and their architects during the design-development phase, shaping proposals to ensure the best chance of securing consents. Based on historical research, site visits and a thorough awareness of national and local heritage policy, we can competently advise clients how preserve the importance of heritage assets affected by proposed development. Our results are set out in an appropriately detailed heritage statement document which will be submitted alongside the planning application.

We negotiate for our clients with the officers of local planning authorities and the heritage agencies of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to support proposal in the best possible way in terms of heritage impacts.

We prepare Heritage Statements for a vast array of projects; these can vary from small traditional cottages for private clients to nationally important county houses for large estates. We also work with developers who are undertaking large-scale projects for hotels, offices, and residential schemes, sometimes concerning multiple heritage assets.

Why do you need a Heritage Statement?

If a planning application is seeking permission for a proposal which will affect a heritage asset or its setting, it will require a Heritage Statement.

You will likely need a Heritage Statement if you are planning to:

• Make changes to a listed building.
• Make changes to a building which forms part of the setting of a listed building.
• Make changes to the external appearance of a building located in or next to a spatial heritage asset, such as a world heritage site, conservation area, or a designed landscape garden, park or landscape.

There are also further examples where a Heritage Statement may be needed. If you’re unsure whether your planning application will require a Heritage Statement, Simpson & Brown can advise you.

What we do:

All our Heritage Statements are tailored to the specific heritage asset they address. Some are more detailed than others. The size and scale of a heritage statement will be proportionate to the importance of a heritage asset and the impact from the proposed development.

All Heritage Statements will :

• Describe the heritage asset and how it has changed over time.
• Assess its cultural-heritage significance.
• Analyse the proposed works and their potential impact.
• Justify and mitigate any imapcts from the works where appropriate.

Throughout this process we will work alongside the design team to provide advice on the best ways to protect the heritage asset while also achieving the aims of the project. Ultimately, our job is to help our clients gain planning permission and listed building consent, whilst ensuring our heritage assets have a sustainable future.

If you need a heritage statement or more information, reach out to us: admin@simpsonandbrown.co.uk