Policy GP/ND: Non-designated heritage assets

The Local Planning Authority will seek to ensure the retention and enhancement of buildings or other structures identified (at application stage or otherwise) as being non-designated heritage assets. 

When determining a planning application, the Local Planning Authority will make a balanced judgement of the potential impacts of the development on non-designated heritage assets. Consideration will be given to the significance of the asset and its setting, the extent of impact on its significance, as well as the scale of any harm or loss to the asset. 

Prior to the loss of a non-designated heritage asset, an appropriate level of survey and recording will be expected, including archaeological investigation where appropriate (the results of which should be deposited on the Cambridge Historic  Environment Record). 

Non-designated heritage assets can take many forms, ranging from buildings and structures to less tangible elements such as archaeological remains and designed landscapes. These assets must exhibit a level of historical or cultural importance that justifies their identification as non-designated heritage assets and their consideration in planning decisions. The Local Planning Authority encourages the inclusion of such assets in Neighbourhood Plans. Neighbourhood planning working groups aiming to identify these types of heritage assets within their plans are advised to collaborate with the Local Planning Authority to ensure that they meet the criteria and are warranted to be identified as a non-designated heritage asset. 

National guidance indicates that planning authorities may establish criteria to identify buildings of heritage value that are not officially designated. To determine whether a building or structure qualifies as a non-designated heritage asset, the Council uses a set of criteria aligned with national planning guidance. Key significance criteria include: 

Architectural and artistic significance 

• Visual or design merit 
• Designed by a known architect 
• Completeness / rarity 
• Local landmark quality 
• Group value / contribution to a cohesive group of structures 

Historical significance 

• Links to notable people or events 
• Representativeness of a certain style or period 
• Value to the local community or culture 

Archaeological significance 

• may be in the form of buried remains, crop marks or earth works, but may also be revealed in the structure of assets or in a designed landscape. 
• Inclusion in the Cambridge Historic Environment Record. 

While primarily aimed at assessing buildings and structures, the overarching policy is applicable to all types of non-designated heritage assets. Additionally, the National Planning Policy Framework offers guidance on evaluating the impact of developments on such assets. Non-designated heritage assets play a key role in reinforcing a sense of local identity and distinctiveness, and the embodied carbon emissions that would result from demolition and redevelopment compared to retention and refurbishment, and the unsympathetic alteration or demolition of such locally important buildings and structures will only be acceptable where it is demonstrated the public benefits of the proposed development would outweigh any adverse impact on the non-designated heritage asset and the adverse carbon consequences of demolition works. 

The Council’s manage a list of locally important heritage assets, once on Cambridgeshire's Local Heritage List these assets become known as non-designated heritage assets for the purposes of planning decision making. When preparing planning applications, applicants are advised to consult the Local Planning Authority’s Local List for further details on identified non-designated heritage assets. 

The Local List is not exhaustive and will continue to be added to. Whilst a significant way of identification, it is not the only way that local heritage assets may be identified. 

• 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.