Heritage assets such as buildings, monuments, sites, parks and other designed landscapes are legally of two types: designated and non-designated. Designated assets are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, Cadw in Wales, and the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland, which affords them a degree of protection against demolition or alteration without the approval of the local planning authority.^[2] Additionally, in England a national amenity societyOrganisation tasked with monitoring the planning and development of listed structures. must be notified of any work to be done on a designated listed building that involves any element of demolition.^[3]

Many other assets recognised locally as requiring some degree of consideration by local planning authorities, but falling short of the criteria for designated status, can be added to a local heritage list by the relevant planning authority. That means their development should take into account the significance of those assets, and viable uses consistent with their conservation.^[2]

See also

• Listed buildingStructure of particular architectural and/or historic interest deserving of special protection.