Statements of Significance

Independent assessments of why a building, place, or landscape matters — the foundation for sound conservation decisions.

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A Statement of Significance distils the historic, architectural, archaeological, artistic and communal values of a place. It provides the evidence base required by Historic England, the Diocesan Advisory Committees and local authorities, and gives owners a clear framework for managing change.

A Statement of Significance is not an argument for or against anything. It is the shared factual foundation that later arguments are built on, which is why funders, dioceses and local authorities generally ask for one before they will engage with proposals at all.

The most useful statements are honest about hierarchy. Very few buildings are uniformly significant; most contain elements of exceptional interest alongside later work of little or none. Saying so plainly is what allows change to be directed towards the parts of a building that can comfortably absorb it.

You are likely to need this if

A Diocesan Advisory Committee has requested one as part of a faculty application.
Historic England or a local authority has asked for the significance of a place to be set out before proposals are considered.
You are preparing a Conservation Management Plan and need the evidence base beneath it.
A grant funder requires an understanding of significance before committing funds.

What you receive

Documentary, cartographic and archival research into the history and development of the place.
An assessment of significance across all recognised heritage values.
Identification of the elements that contribute most, and least, to that significance.
A framework for judging future change against what actually matters.

Other services

Not sure which of these you need? Describe the building and the works you have in mind and I will tell you — or read the common questions about listed buildings and conservation areas.

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