Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment : ITS OUT

[BAJR]

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publicatio...lding/pps5

Yes it is here!

Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment (PPS5) sets out the Government's planning policies on the conservation of the historic environment.
This replaces Planning Policy Guidance 15: Planning and the Historic Environment (PPG15) published on 14 September 1994; and Planning Policy Guidance 16: Archaeology and Planning (PPG16) published on 21 November 1990.
PPS5 will be supported by guidance prepared by English Heritage (external link).


The press release is as follows:


John Healey: Modern planning system will preserve our heritage for future generations

Published 23 March 2010 Housing and Planning Minster John Healey today confirmed the new planning policy to make heritage assets the centrepieces of rejuvenated towns and cities, and protect the historic environment for future generations.
The new guidelines provide the first integrated approach for developers and councils to work together to restore and enhance historic buildings, as well as monuments, parks, gardens and industrial sites.
The planning policy for the historic environment has been strengthened following extensive consultation, and sends a clear message that our heritage should be protected and viewed as a catalyst for regeneration, rather than a barrier to development.
The new approach will ensure that individual heritage assets get the level of protection they deserve, and changes to the historic environment make an important contribution to tackling climate change and promoting green development.
A detailed Practice Guide from English Heritage accompanies the new guidance and explains how councils and developers can apply the new policies, and use heritage assets such as old theatres, churches and factories to inspire imaginative new development and high quality design.
John Healey said:
[INDENT] "Our country has a rich heritage, with a unique set of buildings, monuments and landscapes that are highly prized by the people who live near them as well as tourists from all over the world.
"Heritage assets can never be replaced, which is why I'm giving councils the expert tools they need to make these assets the centrepieces of local regeneration while protecting our historic environment for future generations."
[/INDENT] Phil Kirby, Immediate Past President of the Planning Officers' Society said:
[INDENT] "The Planning Officers' Society welcomes the changes made by Communities and Local Government in response to the concerns raised in the original consultation document. The new PPS5 strikes the right balance between the conservation of our heritage assets as a matter of utmost importance but allowing flexibility for change in the 21st Century."
[/INDENT] Improvements to the final policy statement include:

• definitions of what makes a building, monument or landscape significant, so it is easier for councils and developers to understand the impact of the proposed change;
  
• greater emphasis on the role the historic environment can play in regeneration and economic development, to encourage heritage to be seen as an asset rather than a barrier to development;
  
• explaining the range of information sources councils and developers can use to assess the impact of their applications on the historic environment; and
  
• reinforcing the presumption in favour of protecting designated heritage assets.
  

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1516334

[kevin wooldridge]

First impression.... Better than I had thought likely.

A number of ambiguities that I guess we will have to wait and see how they might be implemented.....particularly as to whether maintenance of HERs and archives are now an obligation on planning authorities; whether publication is now an obligation for developers and something very weird to do with human remains (see last footnote of main body text of PPS5). I can see legal challenges by some interested parties as to how this PPS might be interpreted.....and possibly future legislation.

[Unitof1]

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[SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3]
HE6.1 [/SIZE][SIZE=3]Local planning authorities should require an applicant to provide a description of
the significance of the heritage assets affected and the contribution of their setting
to that significance. The level of detail should be proportionate to the importance
of the heritage asset and no more than is sufficient to understand the potential
impact of the proposal on the significance of the heritage asset. As a minimum the
relevant historic environment record should have been consulted and the heritage
assets themselves should have been assessed using appropriate expertise where

necessary given the application’s impact.

[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE]
Is this on every application????[/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=3]

[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE]

[Unitof1]

[SIZE=3]

[SIZE=3][SIZE=3]
HE6.2 [/SIZE][SIZE=3]This information together with an assessment of the impact of the proposal should
be set out in the application (within the design and access statement when this is
required) as part of the explanation of the design concept. It should detail the
sources that have been considered and the expertise that has been consulted.
H[/SIZE][SIZE=3]E6.3 [/SIZE][SIZE=3]Local planning authorities should not validate applications where the extent of the
impact of the proposal on the significance of any heritage assets affected cannot

adequately be understood from the application and supporting documents.

[/SIZE]
Seems so

does this sound like a dba for everything?[/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=3]

[/SIZE]

[Unitof1]

"dear client I think I need to do a pre application evaluation"

what its only a small extention?

sorry evaluation by trench it is

(by the way evaluation is the only method mentioned in the ppssss, it seems to me a little worrying that excavation is not mentioned)

[Unitof1]

It does not use the word archaeology anywhere! Since when is archaeology part of the historic environment. The phrase historic environment never appeared in PPG16

[Talisien]

It does use 'archaeological' e.g. HE6.1

[BAJR]

58. In accordance with HE6.1, an applicant will need to undertake an assessment of significance to an extent necessary to understand the potential impact (positive or negative) of the proposal and to a level of thoroughness proportionate to the relative importance of the asset whose fabric or setting is affected. Given the obvious burden of the process, local planning authorities will need to be careful to only ask the applicant for what is genuinely needed to satisfy the policy requirement. Although there is no limit on the sources of information that might be consulted or the exercises that might be carried out to fulfil that requirement, the most common steps an applicant might take are as follows. The first three steps will be undertaken in almost every case.
1.
Check the development plan, main local and national records including the relevant Historic Environment Record, statutory and local lists, the Heritage Gateway, the NMR, and other relevant sources of information that would provide an understanding of the history of the place and the value the asset holds for society.
2.
Examine the asset and its setting.
3.
Consider whether the nature of the affected significance requires an expert assessment to gain the necessary level of understanding.
4.
Consider whether there are any special techniques that need to be employed because of the type of asset.
5.
Seek advice on the best means of assessing the nature and extent of any archaeological interest e.g. geophysical survey, physical appraisal of visible structures and/or trial trenching for buried remains.
6.
Consider, in the case of certain buildings whether physical intervention, such as the removal of plaster, may be needed to reveal important details hidden behind later additions and alterations.
7.
Carry out additional assessment where the initial research has established an architectural, historic, artistic and/or archaeological interest but the extent, nature or importance of which needs to be established more clearly before safe decisions can be made about change to the site. This may require a desk-based assessment and/or on-site evaluation. Such may be necessary for all types of asset, including buildings, areas and wreck sites, where understanding of the asset’s history and significance is incomplete. Where applicants are to commission assessment or evaluation they are advised to discuss the scope of the work with the local planning authority in advance and to agree a written scheme of investigation, if necessary, before commencement.
8.
Consider, and if necessary confirm, whether any investigative work may itself require planning permission or other consent.

PPS5 Planning for the Historic Environment: Historic Environment Planning Practice Guide
pp 20-21
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/serve.../nav.21136

[destroyingangel]

Actually, it uses the term word 'archaeology' once, 'archaeological' eleven times and 'archaeologist' once.

To me, the whole document looks a bit fluffy and ripe for misinterpretation (we need the guidance documents EH)

[Talisien]

The link in BAJR's post takes you to EH's guidance.