Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance - English Heritage

ENGLISH HERITAGE CONSERVATION POLICIES AND GUIDANCE
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New work and alteration
138 New work or alteration to a significant place should normally be
acceptable if:
a. there is sufficient information comprehensively to understand the impacts
of the proposal on the significance of the place;
b. the proposal would not materially harm the values of the place, which,
where appropriate, would be reinforced or further revealed;
c. the proposals aspire to a quality of design and execution which may be
valued now and in the future;
d. the long-term consequences of the proposals can, from experience,
be demonstrated to be benign, or the proposals are designed not to
prejudice alternative solutions in the future.
139 The recognition of the public interest in heritage values is not in conflict with
innovation, which can help to create the heritage of the future. Innovation is
essential to sustaining cultural values in the historic environment for present
and future generations, but should not be achieved at the expense of places
of established value.
‘The proposal would not materially harm the values of the place, which,
where appropriate, would be reinforced or further revealed’
140 The greater the range and strength of heritage values attached to a place,
the less opportunity there may be for change, but few places are so sensitive
that they, or their settings, present no opportunities for change. Places whose
significance stems essentially from the coherent expression of their particular
cultural heritage values can be harmed by interventions of a radically
different nature.
141 Quality of design, materials, detailing and execution is obviously essential in
places of established value. Conversely, places of lesser significance offer the
greatest opportunity for the creation of the heritage values of tomorrow,
because they have the greatest need of quality in what is added to them.
Their potential will only be achieved if all new work aspires to the quality
routinely expected in more sensitive places.
‘The proposals aspire to a quality of design and execution which may be
valued now and in the future’
142 The need for quality in new work applies at every level, from small
interventions in an historic room, to major new buildings or developments.
Small changes need as much consideration as large ones, for cumulatively
their effect can be comparable.