Heritage Statements: What is important about the affected heritage assets (the 'significance')?

What is important about the affected heritage assets (the 'significance')?

What is special about the asset?

There are many factors which may contribute to the ‘Significance’ of a heritage asset. Therefore the factual information on the history of the site should be accompanied by an assessment of why it is significant.  The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) defines significance as "the value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest".  It defines four types of heritage interest: historic, architectural, artistic and archaeological.  These are explained further below: 

• Historic – heritage assets can provide a record that illustrates the importance of past lives and events.  Relevant factors may include the age and history of the asset, its development over time, its association with a particular time-period or person, the layout of a site and/or the function and plan form of a building.
• Architectural – the design and visual qualities of an asset, which can arise from either deliberate design or from the way the heritage asset has evolved over time.  It includes the construction, craftsmanship, materials, features and decoration of buildings and structures of all types.
• Artistic – the interest derived from human creative skill such as carving or sculpture.
• Archaeological –  where a heritage asset  holds, or potentially may hold, evidence of past human activity worthy of conserving or recording for expert investigation at some point.  It may include evidence in a building’s fabric for phases of development over time, past uses of the site or building, or potential for below ground remains.

Further information nationally is provided within Historic England’s Heritage Protection Guide and in their advice document Good Practice Advice in Planning Note 02.

Further information on what may be considered significant for heritage assets in Brighton & Hove is included in the council’s supplementary planning guidance and supplementary planning documents.

What is special about its surroundings ('setting')?

A heritage asset can be significant due to its physical presence, but its setting can also be significant.  The NPPF defines setting as “the surroundings in which a heritage asset is experienced. Its extent is not fixed and may change as the asset and its surroundings evolve. Elements of a setting may make a positive or negative contribution to the significance of an asset, may affect the ability to appreciate that significance or may be neutral.”  Setting will include, but not be limited to, key views of the asset in its wider context.  Historic England provide further guidance on setting.

Are there any areas which are not of interest?

Conversely, it is also useful to identify those parts that are not important.  For example, if you have evidence that part of a building was rebuilt in the late 20th century, this may also affect its significance.  In this case, it may be that the overall form and design is still important, but the actual fabric is unlikely to be of significance.  Similarly, if you have evidence of below-ground disturbance in the grounds of your property (for example creation of a swimming pool or air raid shelter in the garden), this will affect the amount of below ground archaeology to survive.  Information like this should be included in the Heritage Statement.

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