Policy GP/HE: Historic environment

1. All development proposals that have the potential to impact heritage assets or their setting must be supported by a

A Heritage Impact Assessment is a tool used to evaluate how a proposed development may impact heritage assets.

. The level of detail contained within the

A Heritage Impact Assessment is a tool used to evaluate how a proposed development may impact heritage assets.

should be proportionate to the proposed development and the number of assets affected. 

2. The Local Planning Authorities will balance the need for development with the conservation, enhancement and enjoyment of the historic environment through a positive strategy to ensure that: 

  a. Proposals affecting the historic environment consider the wider social, economic, cultural and environmental benefits of conserving heritage assets, taking into account the positive contribution that conserving heritage assets can make to the sustainability of communities; 

  b. New development conserves and, where appropriate, enhances the special character and distinctiveness of

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

. Proposals must respect the character, setting and nature of any heritage asset, with the positive contribution made by the historic environment taken into consideration and used to inform design; 

  c.

A building, monument, site, place, area or landscape identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions, because of its heritage interest. Heritage asset includes designated heritage assets and assets identified by the local planning authority (including local listing).

are sustained in viable uses that are compatible with their significance. 

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

boasts a rich and diverse historic environment, formed of both designated and non-designated assets. This includes a high number of nationally listed buildings, conservation areas, registered parks and gardens, scheduled monuments, and other heritage assets of local importance. Much of this heritage is visible in the distinctive historic landscapes shaped by agricultural, academic, residential and commercial development, while other elements of the historic environment are more intangible. 

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

’s unique blend of historic towns, villages, and hamlets set within the countryside contribute to the local character and sense of place, whilst Cambridge, which has a varied architectural heritage, from the internationally recognised grandeur of King’s College Chapel to the more modest vernacular buildings reminiscent of an East Anglian market town.

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

’s historic environment is an important resource, bringing social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits to the community, adding to the quality life and wellbeing of residents and visitors. Important visitor attractions with historic merit include Wimpole Hall, Denny Abbey and the Imperial War Museum, Duxford and Cambridge University’s Botanic Garden and Fitzwilliam Museum and colleges. Together, these features of the historic environment form an irreplaceable cultural resource that enriches the character and cultural identity of

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

. 

Heritage is an essential component of plan-making. A full understanding of the historic environment, including traditional materials and construction methods used in vernacular buildings, is needed to inform plans, identify opportunities for conservation and enhancement, and reinforce a local sense of place. Given the rich tapestry of

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

’s historic and natural environment and the strategic objectives of this

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

, the planning strategy for

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

’s historic environment requires a multi-layered approach that includes a number of interrelated actors, initiatives and local planning instruments (see Figure 133 overleaf). The components of the

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

Historic Environment Strategy will be added to and updated as necessary and provide tools to realise the ongoing management of the area’s heritage assets. Planning decisions will be made having regard to the content of the relevant components of this Historic Environment Strategy. 

The Councils will work with communities, partner organisations, and developers to conserve and enhance the historic environment wherever possible, and address development challenges in a balanced and sympathetic way. Pressures from development need to be carefully considered in order to ensure they do not detrimentally impact

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

’s historic environment, particularly South Cambridgeshire’s special rural character and the nationally significant buildings and green spaces in the centre of Cambridge. 

The Local Planning Authority will actively seek the protection of

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

’s designated and non-designated heritage assets. New development must respect the character, setting and nature of any heritage assets that might be affected by the proposed development. As part of the strategic approach to the Historic Environment, the Local Planning Authorities will require applications to include Heritage Impact Assessments where a proposal would impact heritage assets to ensure that the effective use of available local planning mechanisms. Heritage Impact Assessments are useful tools that help developers and decision-makers to understand the importance of heritage assets that might be impacted by a proposal.

The details included within a

A Heritage Impact Assessment is a tool used to evaluate how a proposed development may impact heritage assets.

will vary depending on the nature and scale of the development, but they typically include: 

• a description of the significance of any heritage assets affected, including any contribution made by their setting; 
• a proportionate assessment of the potential impact that development may have on the heritage asset, their historic importance, and their setting; 
• justification for works that seek to alter heritage assets and the wider historic environment; 
• information on any sources that have been consulted to prepare the assessment, such as

  Areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. You can find more information on the Councils’ websites:

  Cambridge: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/conservation-areas 

  South Cambridgeshire: https://www.scambs.gov.uk/planning/natural-historic-and-built-environment/historic-environment/conservation-areas/

  Appraisals and the Cambridgeshire Historic Environment Record; 
• the expertise and experience of the person(s) conducting the

  A Heritage Impact Assessment is a tool used to evaluate how a proposed development may impact heritage assets.

  . 

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

  : Topic Paper 5: Great Places

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  Strategic

  A Heritage Impact Assessment is a tool used to evaluate how a proposed development may impact heritage assets.

  (2021)

We will consider all comments while developing the next version of the

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

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All comments must be received by 30 January 2026 at 5pm.