Protecting heritage

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photo of a listed building

Heritage assets are of enormous value to communities for their contribution to the character and understanding of a place.  The National Planning Policy Framework defines significance as "the value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest" and defines four types of heritage interest: historic, architectural, artistic and archaeological.

The heritage protection system in England designates legally binding categories of protected heritage: Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments, Conservation Areas and Protected Wreck Sites; it is a criminal offence to conduct certain works to them without the necessary consent.

Information on heritage assets can be requested from the council through the Historic Environment Record (HER), the most complete record of archaeological remains and historic buildings in Leicestershire and Rutland. 

The council employs planning archaeologists to comment on planning applications where they have the potential to impact on heritage assets. 

Any proposed works to take place near to heritage assets requires careful planning and consultation. Maintenance of these assets must be sensitively and sympathetically undertaken and often requires the employment of specialist contractors. Highway development should avoid damage to and, where appropriate, enhance the historic environment. 

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