Local List of Heritage Assets

About the National Heritage List

The National Heritage List (NHL), compiled by Historic England, identifies all nationally-designated heritage assets such as buildings, parks and gardens, monuments, battlefields, historic ships and wrecks. The purpose of designation is to record and identify the nature and significance of heritage assets and, by listing them on the NHL, to raise awareness of their value with owners and managers and to safeguard their key features if change is contemplated.

The development of local lists

Over the last few years, through its advisory body, Historic England, the Government has been in discussion with local authorities over developing the concept of lists of locally important heritage assets. These are defined as buildings/sites that are important at a local rather than national level. According to the National Planning Policy Framework (2012), planning authorities must set out:

"... a positive strategy for the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment"

in their Local Plan. Heritage assets should be conserved:

"in a manner appropriate to their significance. Local planning authorities should have up-to-date evidence about the historic environment in their area and use it to assess the significance of heritage assets and the contribution they make to their environment"

[NPPF para 169]

The NPPF definition of heritage asset:

"includes designated heritage assets and assets identified by the local planning authority (including local listing)."

So, a designated asset (as identified on the NHL) is afforded greater protection than non-designated assets (as might appear on a local list).

Local Lists are non-statutory, i.e. they are a voluntary agreement between local authorities and local groups with an interest in heritage and, while a good way of achieving greater understanding of and recognition for local heritage assets, they offer limited protection. The placing of anything on a local list does not exclude it from development or demolition.

How local lists work

Nominations are invited for a building or structure, park or garden for inclusion on a local list. The information required to accompany the nomination of a site includes:

• The approximate date that the building or other structure was built/created
• Information on its historical relationship to the local area
• Information on its architectural merit and design
• Information on any historical association to famous local people, local historic events, strong community or social development. This must be well documented, evidenced and available
• Up to date photographs
• Historical photographs/illustrations
• Maps (past and present)
• Information about ownership (and contact with any owner)

Download the nomination form or complete online:

• Hastings Local List Heritage Asset nomination form (.pdf 169KB)
• Online - Hastings Local List Heritage Asset nomination form

On the nomination form (and using extra documentation where necessary) you should set out clearly how you think the asset meets the criteria for local designation, providing evidence to support your view. You should consider any current substantiated threats (risks) to the asset. This will enable you to prioritise any nominations. You should consult an owner whose site is nominated as part of the assessment, the Local Authority is likely to follow this up as they assess the nominations presented to them.

The Local Heritage Listing (Historic England Advice Note 7) is a 'Good Practice Guide' for Local Heritage Asset Listing. This explains how the process of local listing might be managed, including how the public and community organisations could be involved in selection, what sorts of sites are appropriate and how to get them onto local lists. We have based our approach on this guide, so it might be of use to you, to support your nomination. Visit: https://historicengland.org.uk/ for further information.

Once a nomination is received the Council will assess it through a panel, including Council Officers and Members and experts in the field of historic buildings, heritage conservation and architecture. The decisions will be ratified by Cabinet. If a nomination is accepted it will be added to the Local List of Heritage Assets. The Council will give reasons if a nomination is not accepted.  

Potential benefits of local listing

• An up-to-date and robustly selected list of historic buildings, structures, parks, gardens and open spaces to strengthen the role of local heritage assets as a material consideration in deciding the outcome of planning applications
• It provides site descriptions accompanied by well-researched and accurately-recorded supporting reference material
• A list that forms part of the schedule of designated sites within a local authority's area for the evidence base of its Local Plan and is capable of being updated and amended as and when new information becomes available
• It provides additional contextual information for informing the selection and/or extent of associated designations such as conservation areas, listed buildings, scheduled monuments and tree preservation orders
• A list gives information on locally important buildings, structures and designed historic parks, gardens and open spaces in an electronic and accessible format to meet electronic government requirements
• The process can create a robust methodology for the survey, description and appraisal of sites capable of endorsement by statutory and non-statutory consultees

Community organisations will benefit from:

• An opportunity to have their research acknowledged and put to real, practical use in the planning process
• An opportunity to hone personal knowledge and skills or gain new ones while contributing to something of lasting benefit
• Completed site reports which can be entered on a local authority's Historic Environment Record (HER) and on the UK Parks and Gardens Database to provide a permanent and widely-accessible resource for learning about local heritage both in the local area and nationally

Local List Selection Criteria is available to assist with your nomination.

The Adopted Hastings Local List of Heritage Assets confirms those nominations which have been through the panel, consultation and Council adoption process.