Description: Historic Landscape Characterisation, the creation of a map-based database providing an overview of the historic environment of an area, has been used to inform successful decision-making in areas such as Liverpool, Lincoln and Cornwall. Maps, aerial photographs and a wealth of data on the historic buildings and archaeology in the area are combined to generate a detailed composite picture of how it has developed over time. This evidence base can then be used to analyse the area in different ways, whether it be the historic patterns of human movement, land management, dominant street patterns or the development of transport infrastructure.

Issue: The Government’s plan to use the Thames Gateway to address the problem of housing supply and regenerate the economy of east London represents a unique opportunity both to create new communities and invigorate existing ones. At a time when we are going to ask this landscape to work harder than perhaps ever before, characterisation is a vital first step in identifying the capacity that specific places have to accommodate change and the historic assets available that will help to create successful new communities.

Strategy: English Heritage, in partnership with Essex and Kent County Councils commissioned a characterisation study to produce the first comprehensive assessment of the historic character of the entire Thames Gateway area. The Thames Gateway project is the largest characterisation study ever undertaken, in direct response to the scale of development framework required by planners and decision-makers.

Outcome: This research will now enable planners, developers and regeneration agencies to understand the rich historic environment in the Thames gateway, and maximise the benefits that this can bring.