OPINION PIECE
BALANCING CONSERVATION WITH DEVELOPMENT NEEDS IS CRUCIAL UNDER NEW PLANNING LAW Expertise in understanding, protecting and maintaining the historic environment will be in high demand this year following landmark planning reform and a £1.5 billion five-year funding commitment from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to save cultural venues across the country. Multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard says it will be crucial for planning officers to be able to tap into specialist knowledge to ensure planning reforms do not undermine the consideration of heritage significance in developments.
“There will be a fine balance to delivering heritage-led developments that provide a return on investment while ensuring their significance is protected and enhanced. Partnering with an experienced team is essential for opening up access to innovative, sustainable and valueadded approaches to preserving heritage assets.”
The Planning and Infrastructure Act became law after receiving Royal Assent in December. Designed to accelerate construction, modernise the planning process and make it easier to acquire land for development, the Act is expected to help drive growth by streamlining project delivery from the outset. While measures to improve planning performance have been welcomed, concerns have been raised that some of the essential safeguards to protect the historic environment may be overridden in strategic development strategies. Matthew Appleton, Strategic Account Director for Culture and Heritage at Pick Everard, said the development of heritage assets can enable growth in line with the intentions of the Act. He is encouraging clients to seek the support of experts with a strong track record in building preservation and regeneration to ensure heritage-led developments maximise the benefits of the planned reforms. “With the Act there will be both intended and unintended impact on heritage developments, the majority of which I believe will be positive. There will be a fine balance to delivering heritage-led developments that provide a return on investment while ensuring their significance is protected and enhanced. Partnering with an experienced team is essential for opening up access to innovative, sustainable and value-added approaches to preserving heritage assets.”
Matthew Appleton, Strategic Account Director for Culture and Heritage at Pick Everard
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BUILDER UK MAGAZINE
Meanwhile, the Government has announced that £1.5 billion will be invested to save more than 1,000 arts venues, museums, libraries and