RICS, together with the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC),
the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Planning Officers Society (POS), and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), have responded to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's consultation on the draft Heritage Protection Bill.

RICS warmly welcomes the changes that will be brought about as a result of the measures in the Bill. In particular we support:

• The creation of a simplified, accessible, accountable and responsive management system for the historic environment strongly integrated into the planning system, and reaching across terrestrial and marine domains.

• The associated guarantees to retain or improve current levels of heritage protection, including in particular the commitment from DCMS to underwrite new demands on capacity generated by the proposed changes in England.

• The clarity and accessibility of the new process arising from the broad adoption of terms and definitions from existing statute and case law, including the duty to have ‘special regard’ to the ‘special interest’ of heritage assets.

RICS urges the Government to start thinking now about the transition process that will put in place the measures within the Bill.

It is essential that the complete system is in place before it comes into force, rather than bringing it in on a piece by piece basis. Taking the second approach would make it more difficult for practitioners as they will be unclear which system they are working under. 

Download the joint position in full from the PDF Downloads panel on the right hand side of this page.

For more information contact: James Rowlands (JRowlands@rics.org)