A Heritage Statement is a report you need to write when you want to change something about an old or special building. This includes:

• listed buildings that are protected because they are very old or important
• homes in conservation areas

The law says you must do this under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Your report must explain:

• why the building is important
• what changes you want to make
• how your changes might affect the building’s look, history, and importance

Significance

Significance is the main idea behind heritage planning rules. It applies to all heritage assets, including designated (listed buildings or in conservation areas) or not (locally listed buildings).

The NPPF says that significance is the value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest. The interest can be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic. It may come from the building itself or the area around it.

Conservation

Conservation is the process of looking after heritage assets and managing changes carefully, so that their significance is protected and improved.

When a statement is needed

You need to provide a heritage statement for any application that affects:

• listed buildings
• unlisted buildings in conservation areas
• locally listed or non-designated heritage assets
• the setting of any of the above

A statement can be included in a design and access statement, which is required for most applications in conservation areas. If this statement is needed, you will be asked for it in the application process.

Required information

Your report should include enough detail so that we understand your plans. The amount of detail needed in your statement will depend on how big the project is and how important the building is.

Large proposals that include things like demolition or building in a conservation area will need more detail than small proposals. For example, a replacement of a boundary wall, window, or front door. Research should be included in all reports.

Research

The amount of research you need to include depends on the size of your project. Big changes need more research, but even for small jobs you must prove that you understand the building and its significance.

You should learn about the building or heritage asset before you decide on any work. This will help you make an informed choice and protect what is important about the property.

Where to start researching

You should start with Historic England’s ‘Search the list’ website. This provides a map of listed buildings. Some buildings on the map, such as terraces, may be listed as a group. Double-check the area if your building is not shown by the blue triangle indicator.

Old listing descriptions were written to help you recognise the building and may not explain why it is important. Newer listings usually have more details, including building significance.

Further resources

More help and information can be found in the following places:

• conservation areas (maps and appraisals)
• Historic England selection guides for listed buildings, archaeological sites and historic parks and gardens
• the Pevsner Architectural Guides to the buildings of the counties of England – these are available at most libraries
• Victoria County history
• Heritage Gateway allows for a map search for any historical environment records
• historic ordinance survey maps
• local history books and archives

Impact assessment

Once your plans are confirmed, you need to do a formal impact assessment. This can be a simple statement or a table that:

• lists each part of the work
• shows the building's significance
• shows how the work could affect it

For example, work on windows, such as replacing sash cords or fixing frames, could cause an impact from a small loss of material. The harm is minimal because the original window and glass can still be used. Replacing them with new windows would cause a big impact due to the loss of fabric and the change of appearance. This would cause harm to the significance.

Other information

It is a good idea to include photographs, including the front elevation, and where there are proposed works.

Applications

You can submit your application on the Planning Portal.

The following information is also required:

• site and block plan – these are available to purchase using the Planning Portal
• existing and proposed floor plans/ elevations – to scale. These do not need to be technical and need only to cover the proposed area of works and some indication of where the works are within the building/site
• any details that could assist in understanding of the works, such as survey report or details of the proposed joinery, etc.

Heritage statement template

Our heritage statement template is aimed at small, household applications.