Planning Advice

Managing change to the historic environment

The purpose of the planning system is to contribute to achieving sustainable development, including providing homes, commercial development, and supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner.

The Planning System
How the planning system works to protect the historic environment.
Planning Bulletin
Our monthly ‘Planning Bulletin’ highlights some of the recent and forthcoming developments in the world of planning from a heritage perspective.
Contested Heritage Decisions
Identify and assess considerations in contested heritage cases in accordance with legislation and policy including the NPPF.
Planning Research
To understand how the planning system works in practice, Historic England undertakes and commissions research.

Heritage consents

The different legal consents and permissions that may affect historic buildings and places, including those protected through the designation system.

More about heritage consents

Our services

We offer a range of services to support people involved in managing change to the historic environment.

Greater London Archaeology Advisory Service
Find out about the work and services of the Greater London Archaeology Advisory Service (GLAAS).
Enhanced Advisory Services
Services providing enhancements to Historic England's existing free planning and listing services.
Charter for Advisory Services
Our Charter for Advisory Services sets out the service we provide for those involved in changing or influencing change to the historic environment.

More about our planning services

Understanding the historic environment

Approaches for identifying and interpreting the historic dimensions of present-day landscapes or townscapes.

Understanding Historic Places
Find out about the different approaches available for identifying and interpreting the historic dimensions of present-day landscapes or townscapes.
Conservation Areas
What conservation areas are, and how they are designated and managed.
Tips for Local Authorities
The existing powers and tools available to protect and enhance conservation areas.
Tips for Amenity Societies
The help available to make the most of the opportunities to get involved with local conservation areas.

Creating vibrant and successful places

Supporting local authorities and communities

Local Management
Advice to support local authorities and communities in protecting the special historic buildings and places in their area.
Local Plans
See our advice on drawing up Local Plans that make provision for historic buildings and sites in their area.
Neighbourhood Planning
The historic environment is integral to any plans to improve a neighbourhood. Use the neighbourhood planning process to influence future development.
Decision-Taking
Our advice supports Local Planning Authorities to prepare and make planning decisions on applications affecting historic buildings.

Reducing the environmental impact

Minimising the impact on our historic places, coasts, sea, and rural areas from increasing development for social and economic purposes.

Infrastructure
Our approach to major road and energy schemes and their impact on historic buildings and places.
Rural Planning
How planning in the countryside differs from that in urban areas.
Coastal & Marine Planning
The process of advising on marine and coastal development projects, from sand and aggregate extraction to major port construction, working with Government regulators, advisors, and industry.
Minerals Extraction
Exploring the relationship between quarrying, mining and other forms of minerals extraction and the historic environment

World Heritage

The World Heritage Convention, our responsibilities, how we work with UNESCO, and how industry professionals can help.

More about World Heritage

The World Heritage Convention
Find out more about the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention, signed and ratified by the UK.
Protection and Management of World Heritage Sites
The protection and management system for a World Heritage property reflects all the measures put in place to ensure its status can be maintained.
World Heritage and Climate Change
Climate change is recognised as one of the most significant threats to World Heritage, impacting Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of many properties.