Non-designated heritage assets
What are non-designated heritage assets?
Non-designated heritage assets are buildings, monuments, sites, places, areas or landscapes identified by plan-making bodies as having a degree of heritage significance meriting consideration in planning decisions but which do not meet the criteria for designated heritage assets.
National Planning Policy Framework requirements regarding NDHA can be of guidance (paragraph 209).
View government guidance on enhancing and conserving the historic environment.
What are the criteria for non-designated heritage assets?
To be considered non-designated heritage assets, the asset should meet the following criteria:
- it must be capable of being a heritage asset within the government’s definition
- it must have heritage interest that can be conserved and enjoyed
- it must have value as heritage for the character and identity of the area for its heritage interest beyond personal or family connections
- its significance must be greater than the general positive value of its surroundings
- historic: It is important to understanding an association with a person, event, episode of history, or local industry. This might be an illustrative interest (it illustrates an aspect of the area’s past that makes an important contribution to its identity or character), or an associative interest (it connects us to people and events that shaped the identity or character of the area)
- artistic: It makes an important contribution to the positive look of the area either by design or fortuitously. This might include artistic interest or architectural interest
- community: It is important to the identity, cohesion, spiritual life or memory of all or part of the community. This might include commemorative or symbolic interest, that reflects meanings of a place for the people who relate to it
- evidence: It is an important resource for understanding and learning about the area’s history. This might include archaeological interest. The importance of the asset is then assessed, including a consideration of its specialness. The specialness is what makes the heritage significance of the asset stand out above the surrounding environment. The following would be considered:
- age: Is it particularly old, or of a date that is significant to the local area?
- rarity: Is it unusual in the area or a rare survival of something that was once common?
- integrity: Is it largely complete or in a near to original condition?
- group value: Is it part of a group that has a close historic, aesthetic or communal association?
- Central Bedfordshire identity: Is it important to the identity or character of the city or a particular part of it?
Planning and non-designated heritage assets
The Central Bedfordshire Local Plan recognises the importance of non-designated heritage assets within the area. In addition to 1,938 listed buildings, Central Bedfordshire’s historic market towns, villages and landscapes contain a significant number of distinctive buildings and structures which are not offered statutory protection. Many of these buildings are recorded on the Historic Environment Record and include; vernacular cottages, farm houses, town houses, artisan houses, barns, onion sheds, model farms, and watermills. These buildings usually have few architectural pretensions and are simple in form and detailing. Their building materials were generally sourced from the locality. We recognise the need to conserve and enhance all of these important features, which make up an essential component of the character of the area.
On some occasions applications that affect non-designated buildings and structures will need to be accompanied by a Built Heritage Statement. Prospective developers should contact our planning team to establish whether a Built Heritage Statement should be submitted as part of any planning application.
Policy HE3 of the Local Plan relates to listed buildings, conservation areas and non-designated heritage assets. Further guidance on non-designated heritage assets, listed buildings, conservation areas and Heritage Assessments can be found in Chapter 5 of the Central Bedfordshire Design Guide (PDF).