The Heritage Dimension of Commercial Renewable Energy Development in Planning is a report from DRP Archaeology commissioned by Historic England to review heritage implications on Renewable Energy Planning.
Climate change is a priority worldwide with renewable energy projects expected to increase in the coming years. The impact on heritage should also be examined in the preliminary research phase of such projects. The report covered cases in England relying on the BEIS Renewable Energy Planning Database. The work is a continuation of the Heritage Dimension of Planning Applications.
The report found that:
- Heritage considerations are often part of renewable energy planning applications.
- Desk-based assessments are the most frequent to identify heritage assets accompanied by policy guidance for direct and indirect impacts.
- A heritage expert would identify heritage with their assessment.
- It is unclear whether the advice was sought in the pre-application phase.
- Heritage does not prove to be a barrier to renewable energy development.
- It is still unclear how to assess the indirect and direct impact on the heritage of renewable energy development.
- There is a need for further study on this topic and for creating a basis for the assessment process.
Our take
The report is thorough providing clear information on the scope of the research. There is definitely a need to consider heritage in renewable energy planning worldwide with better tools for the assessment of its impact on heritage assets. We look forward to seeing more research in this area in the near future.
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The Heritage Dimension of Commercial Renewable Energy Development in Planning
