Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance - English Heritage

ENGLISH HERITAGE CONSERVATION POLICIES AND GUIDANCE
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156 Reconciling conservation and other public objectives can be most difficult
when the heritage values of a significant place, often an archaeological site
or an historic building, must be compared with the potential of a replacement
to enhance the place because of its allegedly greater cultural value. Subjective
claims about the architectural merits of replacements cannot justify the
demolition of statutorily-protected buildings. 10 There are less clear-cut
situations, however, in which it is proposed to replace a building or develop
a place of modest, but positive, heritage value with one that is claimed to be
of much greater architectural quality, or where such a proposal would affect
the setting of a significant place. Its supporters claim net enhancement, while
its opponents claim absolute harm to the heritage values of the place. Each
is making a value-based judgement, but choosing to attach different weights
to particular values. If such positions are maintained, the choice is ultimately
a political one, or for decision at public inquiry.
Enabling development
157 Enabling development that would secure the future of a significant place, but
contravene other planning policy objectives, should be unacceptable unless:
a. it will not materially harm the heritage values of the place or its setting
b. it avoids detrimental fragmentation of management of the place;
c. it will secure the long term future of the place and, where applicable,
its continued use for a sympathetic purpose;
d. it is necessary to resolve problems arising from the inherent needs
of the place, rather than the circumstances of the present owner, or the
purchase price paid;
e. sufficient subsidy is not available from any other source;
f. it is demonstrated that the amount of enabling development is the
minimum necessary to secure the future of the place, and that its form
minimises harm to other public interests;
g. the public benefit of securing the future of the significant place through
such enabling development decisively outweighs the disbenefits of
breaching other public policies.
158 Enabling development is development that would deliver substantial benefit
to a place, but which would be contrary to other objectives of national,
regional or local planning policy. It is an established planning principle that such
development may be appropriate if the public benefit of rescuing, enhancing,
or even endowing a significant place decisively outweighs the harm to other
material interests. Enabling development must always be in proportion to the
public benefit it offers.
10 This is currently stated as government policy in PPG 15, Planning and the historic environment (1994) at paragraph 3.19 (iii).