Expert Heritage Statements & Impact Assessments

When proposing alterations to a listed building or designated site, Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) require a formal Heritage Statement or Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) before work can commence.

Why are these reports mandatory?

In accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), applicants must describe the significance of any affected heritage asset, including any contribution made by its setting. The level of detail must be proportionate to the asset’s historical importance.

Our expert reports clearly articulate:

• Asset Significance: The architectural, community, historical, or archaeological value of the building and its setting.
• Impact Evaluation: Exactly how your proposed development affects that significance.
• Mitigation Measures: Clear, professional strategies designed to reduce or eliminate negative impacts.
• Heritage Enhancement: Elements of your design that actively improve or celebrate the asset.
• Justification Framework: Robust, clear, and convincing policy-based arguments to satisfy conservation officers.

 

Which Historic Designations Do We Cover?

We prepare and submit legally compliant Heritage Statements for developments impacting:

• Listed Buildings: Grade I, Grade II*, and Grade II structures (including curtilage listed structures).
• Conservation Areas & World Heritage Sites: Residential and commercial properties within protected historic zones.
• Scheduled Monuments: Highly sensitive archaeological and historic sites.
• Registered Parks and Gardens: Nationally important designed landscapes.
• Locally Listed Buildings & Non-Designated Heritage Assets: Properties recognized for regional historic value by local councils.

What Type of Projects Do We Undertake?

We deliver bespoke historic environment planning solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial developments. By combining over two decades of public and private sector experience, we successfully navigate complex local planning policies and historic building regulations to unlock the potential of your property.

Residential Heritage Planning Services

Securing planning permission and listed building consent for residential historic properties requires a meticulous approach to conservation policy. We regularly provide householder planning consultancy for residential projects including:

• Listed Building Extensions: Designing sympathetic additions to historic homes.
• Listed Building Renovations: Sensitively adapting or updating your home.
• Historic Building Conversions: Transforming historic barns, chapels, and agricultural structures into houses or apartments.
• Sensitive Locations We Cover: Urban town centres, designated conservation areas, World Heritage Sites, and prominent coastal locations.

Every residential scheme is unique. We conduct a thorough analysis of physical site constraints and local development frameworks to prepare meticulous, compliant advice and documents.

Commercial Heritage & Change of Use Planning

Commercial developments involving heritage assets require a delicate balance between modern business viability and historic preservation. We specialize in navigating Change of Use (Class E and sui generis) applications for historic structures. Our commercial heritage services cover the adaptive reuse of listed buildings, such as former churches, chapels, and farm buildings into:

• Professional Offices & Co-working Spaces
• Retail Units & Commercial Showrooms
• Holiday Accommodation, Hotels, & Airbnbs
• Residential Conversions (Build-to-Rent / HMOs)

We analyse the local commercial context and business demands alongside site sensitivities. This allows us to work positively with local planning authorities and conservation officers on your behalf.

Specialized & Sui Generis Heritage Consultations

Many unique historic properties do not fall into standard residential or commercial planning categories. We provide tailored planning advice for unclassified or Sui Generis heritage developments, including:

• Arts & Entertainment: Historic theatres, cinema restorations, and performance spaces.
• Hospitality & Leisure: Nightclubs, historic pubs, and boutique hostels.
• Socio-Economic & Industrial: Laundrettes, petrol filling stations, and amusement centres.
• Military & Defence Infrastructure: Historic barracks, active or decommissioned airfields (RAF bases), coastal forts, and pillboxes.
• Law Enforcement & Penal Institutions: Historic prisons, gaols and court buildings.
• Decommissioned & Secure Sites: Former Ministry of Defence (MoD) land, naval dockyards, and munitions factories.

No matter how complex or unusual your building's designation, our extensive public and private sector insight helps mitigate risk and streamline the application process.