Historic environment

The national planning policy framework (NPPF) defines the historic environment as:

'All aspects of the environment resulting from the interaction between people and places through time, including all surviving physical remains of past human activity, whether visible, buried or submerged, and landscaped and planted or managed flora.'

The 'historic environment record' includes:

'Information services that seek to provide access to comprehensive and dynamic resources relating to the historic environment of a defined geographic area for public benefit and use.'

A Guide To Climate Change Impacts, On Scotland’s Historic Environment, published by Historic Environment Scotland in October 2019, defines the historic environment as: ‘Our surroundings as they have been shaped, used and valued by people in the past, and continue to be today. The historic environment includes natural and built features, and it can be valued for both its tangible and intangible aspects.’

Conservation Principles, Guidance for the sustainable management of the historic environment in Northern Ireland, published by the Historic Environment Division in July 2021, defines the historic environment as: ‘All aspects of the environment resulting from the interaction between people and places through time, including all surviving physical remains of past human activity, whether visible, buried or submerged, and deliberately planted or managed flora.’

See also: Conservation of the historic environment.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Archaeology and construction.
• Archaeological officer.
• Building Preservation Notice.
• Certificate of immunity.
• Conservation.
• Conservation area.
• Conservation officer.
• Designated areas.
• Ecclesiastical exemption.
• English Heritage
• Heritage asset.
• Historic England.
• National planning policy framework.
• Principles of conservation.
• Scheduled monuments.
• Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
• Urban archaeological database (UAD).