A Charter for Planning and Development Advisory Services

This Charter sets out the service provided by English Heritage for those involved in changing or influencing change to the historic environment. It explains how we handle requests for pre-application and statutory advice; it covers our advice on matters of policy and management issues relevant to the planning process; and it explains our engagement, in partnership with others, in the modernised planning system.  The links on this page will take you to each part of this document.

We are committed to continuously improving the timeliness and quality of our advisory service. We currently give more than 95% of planning and listed building consent advice to local authorities within 21 days or against an agreed timetable. We also devote an increasing proportion of our time to pre-application advice.

Our Charter principally covers our service to local planning authorities, owners of heritage assets and developers, but anyone who needs consent for work affecting the historic environment will find it useful. It may also be relevant where English Heritage is invited to engage in Planning Performance Agreements.

This Charter will be periodically updated in response to our evolving role within the planning system. This third edition of the Charter emphasises our commitment to pre-application advice and contains new sections on design and access statements and e-planning.

For hard copies or alternative formats of this document, A Charter for English Heritage Planning and Development Advisory Services, or the E-Planning insert, please contact English Heritage Customer Services Department on 0870 333 1181, Textphone: 01793 414878 or E-mail: customers@english-heritage.org.uk.