10 CONTEXT 183 : MARCH 2025 Law and policy update Planning for change (and a shark) Alexandra Fairclough writes: In developing legislation and policies to promote economic growth, the government will inevitably impact heritage assets. The Plan for Change proposes 1.5 million new homes and 150 decisions on major infrastructure projects within this parliamentary term. The new National Planning Policy Framework was published in December. Since my last column went to press, the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 has come into full effect (4 November 2024), with the related regulations. Wales now has the most up-to-date historic environment legislation of the UK nations. However, although the new legislation is clearer in terms of understanding and applying the law, there are no changes to the operation of the management and protection regimes for the Welsh historic environment. Note that the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 no longer apply in Wales. In Scotland, a reminder that amendments introduced by The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 (GPDO) have extended permitted development rights. These relate to the alteration and replacement of windows to a wider range of locations and building types than previously and significantly now include buildings in conservation areas, with some restrictions. In England, the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) made no direct changes to the heritage policies (other than revised numbering). However, it is worth familiarising yourselves with grey-belt policies, the definition of grey belt, and paragraph 11 of the NPPF in relation to footnote 7, which refers to designated heritage assets. It is crucial that heritage specialists get involved in the identification of grey-belt land. The glossary definition of grey belt excludes land where the application of policies relating to designated heritage assets and non-designated archaeological sites of demonstrably equivalent significance to a scheduled monument (footnote 75, NPPF) would provide a strong reason for refusing or restricting development. The revised NPPF includes changes relating to urban design and master planning. References to ‘beauty’ as a strategic objective
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