This document supersedes the previous document as from September 25th 2008. English Heritage’s Policy Statement and Practical Guide to Assessment: Enabling Development and the conservation of heritage assets has provided a standard approach to considering enabling development since its publication in June 2001. We have now decided to update this guidance in light of practical experience, changing legislation, some additional issues that have emerged, and a greater number of relevant reports and decisions by the Planning Inspectorate.

It should be stressed that the policy approach itself has not changed, although its wording has been updated to align with our Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance for the Sustainable management of the historic environment (April 2008). There is also a short synopsis of the principal differences between the existing and new edition.