Margaret Hodge sets out Government ‘Vision’ for England’s Historic Environment

• Lead from the front ensuring that relevant policy across all of Government emphasises the duty to manage our heritage for present and future generations;

• Get it right and keep it simple with an efficient, effective and transparent protection system which is flexible enough to allow for intelligent and well-managed change;

• Take the right action at the right time by encouraging the right structures and skills at local level to aid consideration of the importance of heritage at an early stage in the development control system, not as an afterthought;

• Promote public pride in people and communities for their local historic environment;

• Keep standards high in care and use for publicly-owned heritage assets while allowing, where appropriate, for well-managed and intelligent change; and
• Be green by promoting the role of the historic environment within the Government’s broader policies on climate change and sustainable development.

Margaret Hodge, Minister for Culture and Tourism, said:

“The Government believes that the historic environment is an asset of enormous cultural, economic, and social value.  It comes in all shapes and sizes and embraces both the very old and the relatively new.  What ties it together, however, is its power to unite communities and foster a positive sense of place.  At its best, it defines what is special about us as a society and is, quite simply, irreplaceable. 

“But its protection and preservation does not come about by accident.  Cross Government action plays a part, along with tireless and excellent work by English Heritage and other agencies in the sector, local authorities at every level, and individual campaigners.  Working together means that everyone, both today and in the future, can discover their connection to those who have come before.”

Baroness Andrews, Chair Baroness Andrews, Chair of English Heritage, said:

“English Heritage is delighted that the value of heritage has been recognised across the whole of government as well as in relation to the government’s responsibility for its own historic estate. We are also pleased that today government has also published the new PPS5 which will make managing change to the historic environment clearer and simpler. It is a very  positive step forward in reforming our heritage protection system.”