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DCMS to reform heritage protection system
At the first national conference of Local Authority Historic Environment Champions held earlier this week, culture minister David Lammy announced that the government is proposing to radically reform the current heritage protection system.
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) aims to design and implement a new heritage protection system which is more accessible, efficient, democratic and accountable.
The new system will incorporate four key areas.
A new unified Register of Historic Sites and Buildings of England will amalgamate the current systems of listing buildings, scheduling ancient monuments and the registration of parks, gardens and battlefields. The register should make designation decisions easier and help local authorities and owners to manage historic properties more effectively.
A reformed heritage consent regime will replace scheduled monument permission and listed building assent to streamline the approval process, particularly for owners or managers who have to look after a range of historic assets.
New voluntary heritage partnership agreements will enable a proactive approach to managing large historic sites and reduce bureaucratic burdens on owners and local authorities.
New statutory requirements relating to Historic Environment Records will ensure that everyone with an interest in their local historic environment has access to a comprehensive, current and understandable knowledge base.
The DCMS proposes that local authorities in England will implement the new heritage consent regime and have access to a Historic Environment Record by 2010. Details: www.culture.gov.uk