David Cox

This typically occurs when a proposal exists to alter or add to a heritage item or place, or a proposal exists to carry out development within the vicinity of a heritage item.

Identifying the Heritage Significance of a place can be complicated but necessary to establish what it is about a building or place, or which aspects of the building or place contribute to its aesthetic, historical, scientific, or social significance. This will identify fabric to be preserved and those parts of less significance where modification would not diminish the significance of the place.

This informs the design of any alteration, additions, or deletions of parts of the item or items.

A Heritage Impact Assessment sets out the impact upon a Heritage Item that alterations, additions, deletions, or nearby development may have upon that item.

A Conservation Management Plan outlines the approach to be taken over time to ensure the retention of Heritage Significance by prescribing a maintenance regime for various aspects of the fabric of a building or place and whether preservation, conservation or restoration is appropriate.

Identifying the aspects of a place which contribute to its heritage significance allows for adaptation of that place to be relevant and useful in the modern world whilst retaining the item into the future.