Valuation of the Historic Environment

The conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage is typically viewed as a desirable undertaking. Preservation and study of cultural heritage contributes to overall social wellbeing through understanding and appreciation of the past and its legacy.

Agencies and organisations tasked with protecting heritage from threats such as urbanisation, population growth, pollution, weather and climate, and even use by the general public, must compete for resources with other socially desirable goals.

Given that resources are limited, priorities must be set among competing concerns both within and between sectors. This study is explicitly concerned with the subset of heritage assets associated with the 'historic environment'.

The study 'Valutaion of the Historic Enviroment' was commissioned because the partners – English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Transport - perceived a joint need for an in-depth review of existing valuation studies concerned with the historic environment.