At a national level Planning Policy Guidance 15: Planning and the Historic Environment (PPG 15) and Planning Policy Guidance 16: Archaeology and Planning (PPG 16) have the most impact on the historic environment.
Planning policy guidance notes set out Government policy on planning issues and provide guidance to local authorities and others on the operation of the planning system. They also explain the relationship between planning policies and other policies which have an important bearing on issues of development and land use. Local planning authorities must take their content into account in preparing their development plans.
The guidance may also be material to decisions on individual planning applications and appeals.
PPG15
This PPG lays out government policies for the identification and protection of historic buildings, conservation areas, and other elements of the historic environment. It explains the role of the planning system in their protection.
The frequently close link between controls over ‘listed’ buildings and conservation areas and development control decisions means that development and conservation generally need to be considered together. Part one of the PPG deals with those aspects of conservation policy which interact most directly with the planning system.
These include matters of economic prosperity, visual impact, building alterations, traffic and affect on the character of conservation areas. Part Two addresses the identification and recording of the historic environment including listing procedures, upkeep and repairs and church buildings. (Original release date September 1994)
See also: Communities: Planning Policy Guidance 15
PPG16
This PPG sets out the government’s policy on archaeological remains on land and how they should be preserved or recorded both in an urban setting and in the countryside.
It gives advice on the handling of archaeological remains and discoveries through the development plan and development control systems, including the weight to be given to them in planning decisions and planning conditions.
Explanation is given of the importance of archaeology and of procedures in the event of archaeological remains being discovered during development. (Original release date November 1990)
It provides advice on the extremely rare circumstance when exceptional and unpredicted remains are encountered while development is in progress. There are powers at the discretion of both the Secretary of State, and the Planning Authority to intervene to ensure that nationally important remains are protected. The developer can insure against any resultant loss, and would, if all appropriate steps have been taken, be entitled to compensation. In most cases, it has proved possible to achieve a satisfactory conclusion through voluntary negotiation. The best insurance is to take the appropriate steps (Assessment, Evaluation etc) at the right time.
See also: Communities: Planning Policy Guidance 16