KMHeritage

Change is constant in the built environment

Historic buildings and areas are often the focus of debate about how that change is managed. The built heritage is a powerful physical expression of our identities and histories, but it’s also where we live, work, study and entertain ourselves. Reconciling necessary change with the protection of that which is most valuable in our heritage is a challenge - particularly for those who are responsible for proposing and controlling development.

Local plans are being replaced by Local Development Frameworks, the way that listing happens has changed, and a fundamental shift has occurred in the way the historic built environment is perceived. A greater emphasis has been placed on a broader and more inclusive notion of heritage, but also on local priorities in planning. Only two years after the publication of Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment, it has been replaced by the National Planning Policy Framework.

When it comes to day-to-day work in the historic built environment, certain key things continue to matter: gathering information, making informed assessments, identifying significance, arguing the case for change or preservation, negotiating acceptable solutions. This is the work that KMHeritage does.

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