The degree of harm caused to heritage assets has become a key issue in guiding development decisions. Explore the meaning of ‘harm’ and how it is being interpreted in practice today.

The National Planning Policy Framework, which incorporates England’s national heritage policy, requires that when considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation. By implication, it identifies four levels of harm that may be caused to the significance of heritage assets: total loss (this is often overlooked but is written in to the NPPF’s Paragraph 193), substantial harm, less than substantial harm, and no harm. The course will explore the meaning and implications of this and of recent case law.

Presentations outlining the background and main issues will be followed by an open discussion session with the course directors and other participants. In the afternoon, those attending in person will take part in a group exercise assessing a case study on harm.

The course will be delivered in a hybrid format. The morning session is being offered for both in-person and online participants. The afternoon session is offered for in-person participants only.