Government responsibility for the historic environment

In England, responsibilities for the historic environment can typically be found in three different areas of government:

• Planning: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
• Culture: Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
• Environment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

Within Scotland, responsibilities can be found within:

• Planning: Directorate for the Built Environment and the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals
• Culture: Directorate for Culture and Digital
• Environment: Rural and Environment Directorate

Within Wales:

• Planning: Planning Inspectorate
• Culture: Heritage Department
• Environment: Department of Environment and Sustainability

Within Northern Ireland:

• Planning: Department of the Environment
• Culture: Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
• Environment: Department of the Environment

Alongside the government departments, each country has a number of national organisations with responsibilities over the historic environment.

• Historic England is the government's statutory advisor on England's historic environment, while Natural England is the statutory advisor on the natural environment.
• Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government.
• CADW is the Welsh Assembly Government's historic environment division.
• The Built Heritage Department of the Northern Ireland Environmental Agency maintain the heritage of the Northern Irish historic environment.Local authority archaeological and conservation teams also play a major role in UK heritage protection. They exist to record, protect and promote the historic environment in their area.

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[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Archaeologist.
• Archaeological officer.
• Conservation area.
• Designated areas.
• English Heritage.
• Historic England.
• Listed buildings.
• National Planning Policy Framework.
• Planning permission.
• Scheduled monuments.
• Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.