H I S T O R I C B U I L D I N G R E P O R T S
• Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA)
• Historic Building Recording (HBR)
• Design and Access Statements (DAS)
• Historic Building Surveys
• Historic Building Listing Assessments
• Specialist Strategic Advice
In addition to providing comprehensive advice on planning and design for heritage projects, we provide a range of reporting services, including Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) and Historic Building Recording (HBR), to support our clients’ applications for planning or listed building consent. We recommend that historic building reports are commissioned at the initial design stage to allow suitable plans to be developed based on an understanding of significance.
Our approach to reporting on historic buildings is practical as well as diligent, creating a foundation to guide conservation and to identify development potential; we support the re-purposing of historic structures where it ensures a future for the building while conserving its historic significance.
All of our historic building reports are set out in accordance with Historic England’s good practice guidelines.
O U R H I S T O R I C B U I L D I N G R E P O R T S E R V I C E S
Historic Building Recording (HBR)
Historic Building Recording (HBR) involves preparing a complete record of a building’s construction and its evolution over time, carefully recording features of architectural, historic and cultural interest. Typically conducted prior to a planning application for development affecting listed buildings, heritage assets, or buildings within conservation areas, Historic Building Recording is sometimes a planning condition made by the local authority to secure planning approval.
In either case, we are expert in providing a timely report that balances historic environment requirements with development needs. Our reports are exceptionally well illustrated, using high quality drawings, plans and photography whenever required, and are written to be suitably informative to architects, contractors and local planning authorities, as well as accessible to private owners.
In compliance with Historic England’s criteria, we provide four levels of historic building recording:
• Level 1
A basic visual record, supplemented by sufficient information to identify the building’s location, age and type. Level 1 is typically used to gather basic information about a large number of buildings for planning purposes or when much ground has to be covered in a short time.
• Level 2
A descriptive record when more information than Level 1 is needed. Both the exterior and interior of the building will be seen, described and photographed. The examination of the building will produce an analysis of its development and use, and the record will include the conclusions reached. A plan and sometimes other drawings may be made.
• Level 3
An analytical record comprising an introductory description followed by a systematic account of the building’s origins, development and use. The record will include an account of the evidence on which the analysis has been based, allowing the validity of the record to be re-examined in detail. The report will include all drawn and photographic records that may be required to illustrate the building’s appearance and structure, and to support an historical analysis.
• Level 4
A comprehensive analytical record which builds on the analysis and interpretation employed at Level 3, which is deduced from the structure itself, by drawing upon the full range of additional sources of information about the building and discussing its significance in terms of architectural, social, regional or economic history. The range of drawings may also be greater than at other levels.
We can advise you on the appropriate level of report for your needs in a free initial consultation, and will provide a fully costed quotation before any work commences.
Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA)
A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), sometimes called a Heritage Impact Statement, identifies the form, materials and history of a building; identifies its heritage significance; assesses the impact that proposed changes will have on the significance and setting of the building, and, if a potentially negative impact is identified, proposals for its mitigation. The report also identifies opportunities to enhance significance and explains why the work is justified.
A Heritage Impact Assessment can be a standalone document or form part of a planning statement or design and access statement.
Heritage Impact Assessments are a standard requirement for any planning application or listed building consent if the proposal directly involves or affects the setting of a building possessing a degree of heritage significance. Significance may be archaeological, architectural, artistic, historic, or a combination of these or more, deriving not only from a heritage asset’s physical structure but also from its setting.
Our Heritage Impact Assessments are conducted in accordance with the latest advice and guidance from the local planning authority and national heritage agencies. The report provides local planning authorities with sufficient information to make an appropriate assessment for a planning application or pre-application as to the:
• Significance of the building and its setting
• Impact of the work upon its significance
• Measures to reduce negative impact
• Measures to enhance significance
• Justification for the works
Preparation of a Heritage Impact Assessment usually requires a site visit to make a detailed inspection of the property and photographic survey, and can include a measured survey if an architect’s or designer’s drawings are not available.
Information gathered by the site survey is supplemented by documentary research in main local, county and national records, consulting the relevant Historic Environment Record (HER) and may include details of statutory designations, planning history and other information where relevant using desk research.
We undertake Heritage Impact Assessments for architects, engineers, planners, designers and property agents, as well as for private and commercial owners of historic buildings.
The scope of a Heritage Impact Assessment varies according to the significance of the asset, the complexity of the building, and the level of impact on the structure and setting, all of which has a bearing on the amount of time required for completion and on the cost of the report. We provide a free initial consultation to advise you on your needs and will provide a fully costed quotation before any work commences.
Design and Access Statement (DAC)
A Design and Access Statement (DAS) is a valuable opportunity to persuade a planning officer of the quality of a project. A Statement describes the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the development, clearly demonstrating how its design has evolved and responded to its local context and heritage significance.
A Design and Access Statement provides an opportunity to pre-empt likely questions from a planning officer by addressing specific framework policies at national and local levels against which the application will be evaluated. Our carefully prepared and written Statements are intended to help planning officers to write their own delegated report and sell the merits of a project to planning committee members.
While generally required for major developments, a Design and Access Statement is usually required in conservation areas, national parks and World Heritage Sites. Listed building consent applications must also include a DAS.
Accessibility is not simply about literal physical access to the site, but also ‘access’ in the broader sense of inclusivity, for example opportunities for mobility, wellbeing, and access to amenities and transport for a range of different users. The DAS records any consultation undertaken in relation to access issues, and how the outcome of this consultation has informed the evolution of the proposed development.
The extent and level of detail in a Design and Access Statement is proportionate to the complexity of the proposed development and heritage significance of the site and setting.
Heritage assets and their needs vary. We prepare many types of historic building report and heritage assessments to suit individual buildings and planning requirements. If the report you require is not listed above, please contact us for more information.