Heritage Action Zone Explanatory Notes and Guidance
Contents What is a Heritage Action Zone?...2 What support can Historic England offer to a Heritage Action Zone?...2 What could a Heritage Action Zone cover?...3 Who could be a partner in a Heritage Action Zone?...3 Requirements for Heritage Action Zone status.3 How to apply...4 How will we decide which projects to take forward?...4 Supporting documents...5 Contact information...5 Statement on Access to Information and Data Protection...5 Appendix 1...6 HISTORIC ENGLAND SERVICES...6 1. Grant funding...6 2. Research...7 3. Listing...8 4. Planning Advice...9 5. Training and outreach...9 All images Historic England Archives unless otherwise stated. If you would like this document in a different format, please contact our customer services department on: Tel: 0370 333 0607 Fax: 01793 414926 Textphone: 0800 015 0174 Email: Customers@HistoricEngland.org.uk Please consider the environment before printing this document Cover page Looking west over Margate, Kent 1
What is a Heritage Action Zone? The aim of a Heritage Action Zone is to achieve economic growth by using the historic environment as a catalyst. A Heritage Action Zone will provide a targeted response to the economic, social and environmental needs of a particular area. Through Heritage Action Zones, we will work with local partners to deliver and implement a programme of support that best meets these local requirements. A Heritage Action Zone is a programme that will help to manage growth in historic places and make heritage assets more productive. It is a way of grouping projects together with a single overall vision, delivered in partnership by Historic England, the Local Authority and other relevant organisations. There are a number of tools available for managing change and making things happen in historic areas. A Heritage Action Zone will pull these different approaches together to achieve one overall vision for sustainable growth. You may have an area of high deprivation where the condition of historic buildings and spaces has deteriorated due to vacancy. Alternatively, your area may be experiencing a significant level of development pressure that threatens its special character or your local authority may be looking to dispose of some of its heritage assets. A Heritage Action Zone will help local partners to work together to tackle some of these issues. Funding for both individual properties within the Zone or wider area-based schemes; Funding towards a post to coordinate and deliver the programme; Specialist advice, ranging from legal support for projects tackling Heritage at Risk to technical advice from our Expert Advisory Group; Research support (e.g. to identify the significance of a place or find a technical solution to a problem); Identification of the hot spots of heritage interest that define the unique historic character of the HAZ by clarifying the significance of what is currently listed, and determining what should be added to the List; Providing updated List entries showing the potential for sensitive change and providing clarity about where special interest lies; Advice on tools for managing development such as Local Listed Building Consent Orders (these provide listed building consent for works to alter or extend (but not demolish) listed buildings in an area). What support can Historic England offer to a Heritage Action Zone? A Heritage Action Zone will encourage local partners to make use of Historic England resources in a creative and focussed way to enhance local places and achieve sustainable growth. The range of services and support available from Historic England include (see more detail in Appendix 1): Roof repairs being undertaken at the Union Chapel, Islington 2
What could a Heritage Action Zone cover? To be considered for Heritage Action Zone status, an area needs to have significant historic interest, with the potential to make greater use of its heritage to support the social, economic and environmental needs of the place. We will prioritise areas which deliver economic growth, with a particular focus in 2018 on housing. We also encourage community engagement and cross-working across a broad range of partner organisations/groups. There is no fixed scale, size or asset type for a Heritage Action Zone but it must be an areabased scheme and should be more than just a single building project. A Heritage Action Zone could target a single complex of structures or a collection of sites across a streetscape or conservation area. Alternatively a Heritage Action Zone could focus on a specific type of heritage asset (such as public parks) found in multiple locations across a local authority area. The heritage assets could be urban or rural, designated or undesignated (for definition see here: https://historicengland.org.uk/ advice/hpg/hpr-definitions/h/536274 ) Most importantly, the scope of the Heritage Action Zone should be deliverable and realistic. A Heritage Action Zone is a tool for positively managing change in the historic environment. Therefore, every Heritage Action Zone must involve proposals for positively managing change or development in the historic environment. We cannot consider proposals that attempt to stop development, nor can we accept proposals that would cause harm to heritage assets. We would not, therefore, consider a proposal for large areas of belowground archaeology unless it was directly affected by a development proposal. A Heritage Action Zone could comprise a mix of funding from Historic England grant schemes, in addition to streamlined Historic England support and partner contributions. For larger programmes, we would recommend that the Heritage Action Zone includes provision for a dedicated programme manager to oversee the delivery of each individual element. Who could be a partner in a Heritage Action Zone? Heritage Action Zone partners might include a mix of public, private and third sector organisations, for example the Environment Agency, a Local Enterprise Partnership, a community group, an adjacent local authority or another funding organisation such as Natural England. If the Local Authority is not the lead organisation, we need to see that it supports the proposal. The lead organisation needs to have sufficient and appropriate structures in place to be able to deliver the programme. Each partner should set out the resources that it is bringing to the Heritage Action Zone partnership. Requirements for Heritage Action Zone status To apply for Heritage Action Zone status you will need to meet the following criteria: The Heritage Action Zone should be delivered through a partnership, this could consist of public, private and third sector organisations; The Heritage Action Zone should include at least one local authority partner; The Heritage Action Zone should deliver opportunities for sustainable long term growth in historic places; The Heritage Action Zone must be based around local heritage assets, either designated or undesignated; The project should be capable of delivery within three to five years. 3
How to apply We are looking for programmes that will provide a creative solution to managing change and growth in historic places. You are therefore invited to submit an Initial Proposal using the form provided. The Initial Proposal will form the basis of initial discussions with your partners. The contribution of individual organisations will vary according to local circumstances but we will need confirmation, at a senior level, of your partners support. Your partners will need to sign your application to confirm they can allocate the necessary resources and sign up to your vision. All applications will be assessed and shortlisted by Historic England. If we think that your proposal has potential, then we will invite you to meet with us and discuss your plans in more detail. A Historic England Selection Panel will then decide which proposals are to be taken forward to develop a Delivery Plan. Once a Heritage Action Zone has been agreed in principle, a Heritage Action Zone Partnership Team will be formed comprising key representatives from the local authority, other relevant partners and Historic England. This Partnership Team will develop a full Delivery Plan, agreed jointly with Historic England and the other partners. This will set out the detailed programme of projects that will be delivered as part of the Heritage Action Zone. The Delivery Plan will confirm: The management and governance arrangements for the Heritage Action Zone; The leads for each individual project; The timetable for each individual project as well as the overall Heritage Action Zone programme; The delivery methods that will be used; The key outputs and outcomes that will be delivered. It is anticipated that the Heritage Action Zones will begin delivery in April each year and that each programme will last between three to five years. Please refer to a Heritage Action Zone process Flow Chart and a Programme Illustration which accompany these notes for further information. How will we decide which projects to take forward? In considering your proposals we will look for: Clearly defined objectives and aims; Clear understanding of the needs of the historic environment; Actions that seek to optimise the historic environment s potential to support sustainable growth, particularly in areas of deprivation; Robust evidence on the historic environment including the type and condition of heritage assets that would benefit from this project; Clear, measurable outputs and outcomes; Other initiatives that might benefit this project; Capacity and resources; plus A good track record of delivering similar projects. The resources that will be required for each individual project; 4
Supporting documents You are welcome to include any additional documents that you feel will support your Initial Proposal and help with the assessment process. These could include: Statements of Significance for heritage assets included in your proposal; A statement on the key issues affecting the area or asset type; Indices of Deprivation ranking Information on the present situation and how success will be measured from baseline data; Planning policies (including details of any conservation policies and site allocations affecting the area); Other relevant policies covering areas such as transport and regeneration; Conservation Area Character Appraisals (if relevant and available); Conservation Area Management Plans (if relevant and available); Photographs of the area or assets to be covered by the HAZ (including historical images where available); Letters from senior representatives of partner organisations confirming their support; Please include a map (or maps) of the Heritage Action Zone area, clearly identifying any heritage assets or distribution of thematic asset types. Maps should be presented in GIS Shape files. Contact information If you would like more information about Heritage Action Zones, or would like to discuss potential ideas with us, then please contact your local Historic England office https://www. historicengland.org.uk/about/contact-us/localoffices/ Statement on Access to Information and Data Protection Freedom of Information We are subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 which provide a general right of access to information we hold. We may provide the information you have supplied in response to a request made under this legislation, subject to any exemptions which apply. We will consult with external parties as necessary prior to releasing information. Data Protection Act 1998 We will retain your personal details, along with the other information you have provided and information obtained from other sources, under the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998. We may disclose such data if we are required to by law. Higherford Mill joinery repairs at Barrowford, Lancashire 5
Appendix 1 HISTORIC ENGLAND SERVICES Historic England is the public body that looks after England s historic environment. We give constructive advice to local authorities, owners and the public. We champion historic places, helping people to understand value and care for them, now and for the future. Details are provided below about the services and support available from Historic England that could form part of a Heritage Action Zone. Please contact us to discuss which services might best fit your purposes. 1. Grant funding Our funding priorities Historic England funding may be available for Heritage Action Zone projects that meet one of our national priorities. These are: Significant elements of the historic environment at risk; and Activities that strengthen the ability of the sector to reduce or avoid risk to the historic environment by understanding, managing and conserving. If you are considering applying for Historic England funding as part of your Heritage Action Zone programme then you will need to ensure that your project meets one of these two requirements. Funding is available for the following types of project: The repair and conservation of listed buildings, scheduled monuments and registered parks and gardens. This includes project development actions which enable repair or improved future management. We focus our grants on those sites which are most in need of repair and where, without our grant, a project would not be able to go ahead. Partnership schemes between Historic England, the Local Authority and other funding bodies, designed to ensure the long term sustainable future of conservation areas, in particular through supporting heritage-based regeneration initiatives. These schemes are run on a day-today basis by local authorities and are designed to target funding for the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas. Improving the management of monuments, or access to them, through agreements with the owner or occupier of the land. These agreements usually run for a term of three or five years. We can include payment for oneoff low cost repairs which would usually be carried out at the start of the term. Assisting the sector to build capacity through local or regional activities and projects which promote the understanding, management and conservation of the historic environment. These activities and projects must help to reduce or avoid risk to the historic environment through at least one of the following: projects which build up the capacity and commitment of local communities to champion the conservation and enhancement of their own local historic environments; projects which promote best-practice standards and skills for the conservation, documentation, interpretation and sustainable management of the resources of England s historic environment; 6
projects directed towards meeting regional information needs. Supporting local authorities in the use of their statutory powers to make sure that urgent work necessary for the preservation of a vacant or partly occupied listed building is undertaken. Funding can be available to assist local authorities to: serve Urgent Works Notices under Section 54 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 on owners who allow historic buildings to fall into an unacceptable state of decay; and to carry out the work required themselves if necessary; underwrite the cost of serving a Repairs Notice under sections 47, 48 and 52 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 on historic buildings which have fallen into a serious and dangerous state of decay. As well as funding local authorities to underwrite the cost of serving a Repairs Notice, we can also, in extreme cases, help with the subsequent acquisition of a building if such action, as a last resort, is deemed necessary. Standard Terms and Conditions for grants: Our funding is subject to eligibility of the project and availability of funds. Any offer of grant will be subject to our standard terms and conditions, including Procurement Regulations which must be complied with. Further details can be found on our website or provided by your local office. We are not able to provide funding for any work that has started before you have accepted our offer. 2. Research Historic England provides high-quality research to provide a sound platform for decisions that affect the protection and management of the historic environment (for more information please refer to the Research pages at www.historicengland.org.uk). We are offering the following research services to potential Heritage Action Zone applicants: National archive images and collections to support research, display and public engagement; Research into historic sites, including archaeology, buildings, gardens and landscapes. This might include documentary research, on-site investigation, survey and analysis; Historic Area Assessments (see here for further information https://historicengland. org.uk/images-books/publications/ understanding-place-historic-areaassessments ) and characterisation studies to enhance understanding of historic places, in order to inform their management and development. This might include aerial survey and mapping; Accessible publications highlighting the historical importance of areas or raise awareness of particular places or issues within the Heritage Action Zone; Training on how to assess the significance of historic places and how to research and record heritage assets; Public engagement activity linked to research activities; Using research to contribute to new or enhanced descriptions for listed buildings or sites setting out what is specifically protected as part of the listing; To apply for funding you normally need to own the property outright or hold a full repairing lease which has at least 21 years to run. 7
Identifying assets of possible local interest; Social and economic evidence, evaluation of data and economic impact assessments. 3. Listing Listing and other forms of designation help to safeguard a place s unique character, and by identifying hot spots for special protection provide focal points for investment. Handled well, these act as magnets for other investment, enabling careful management of a place s historic interest. We are offering the following listing and designation services to potential Heritage Action Zone applicants: Help in determining special places where significance merits protection that could be listed on the National Heritage List for England https://historicengland.org.uk/ listing/the-list; Support in updating entries on the National Heritage List to improve understanding of the rich and diverse heritage interest; Support in developing Heritage Partnership Agreements (HPAs), which provide listed building consent for routine and regular works over an extended period of time; Advice on applying for Certificates of Immunity (COI) from listing, which provide greater certainty on the heritage status of a building for a five-year period; Sourcing general information about heritage assets to help identify the quantity, type and location of designated and non-designated heritage assets in a place; Enriching existing listings and providing a new perspective to the story they tell. If you are considering applying for support in identifying and assessing special and / or pivotal sites for designation (e.g. listing), or if you would like to have an entry on the National Heritage List for England updated, then please ensure these sites have been clearly identified in your application. Stonehenge Project, Old Sarum, Wiltshire: school children involved in the construction of test Neolithic huts 8
4. Planning Advice Historic England offers planning support to people involved in managing change to the historic environment. We are offering the following planning services to potential Heritage Action Zone applicants: Pre-application advice on development proposals affecting the historic environment; Advice on how best to conserve and enhance the historic environment within local planning policy; Advice on repairing and finding new uses for historic buildings and other heritage assets, including support in commissioning condition surveys and feasibility studies; Specialist advice from Historic England s Urban Panel, a group of leading experts who provide advice on the regeneration of historic towns and cities; Provision of viability or valuation advice; Training on interpretation of the National Planning Policy Framework, local plan policies or national HE advice. 5. Training and outreach Historic England offers a range of support for people involved in managing the historic environment. We are offering the following services to potential Heritage Action Zone applicants: Help in identifying key contacts that may be able to support your project; Help with engaging local communities and developing the capacity of local groups and volunteers; Training on best practice in the management of the historic environment; Advice on preparing master plans and development frameworks to promote opportunities for heritage growth; Help in establishing links with schools to help children and young people to understand their local heritage; Help the local Historic Environment Record (HER) carry out a self-audit that identifies actions to develop and enhance their service. For more detailed examples of the types of support available for a potential Heritage Action Zone, please visit our website https://www. historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/heritageaction-zones View of Hide Hill taken from the Town Hall roof, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland 9