Initial Review
We review the site, proposal, heritage designation, planning history and the information already available.
Heritage Statements & Heritage Impact Assessments
Heritage Statements That Strengthen the Planning Case.
Clear, proportionate heritage assessment for listed buildings, conservation areas and development affecting heritage assets.
Cedar Planning prepares professional Heritage Statements and heritage planning assessments for homeowners, architects, developers and landowners across England. We explain the significance of the heritage asset, assess the effect of the proposal and present the planning case in a way that is clear to the decision-maker.
Professional
RTPI Chartered
Heritage assessment integrated with the wider planning case.
Proportionate
Site-Specific
Focused on the significance and impacts that actually matter to the proposal.
Flexible
Standalone or Combined
Heritage Statements can be commissioned alone or alongside other planning documents.
Local
Norfolk
Locally based planning support with dedicated Norfolk and Norwich service pages.
What a Heritage Statement Does
The aim is not to describe an old building. It is to explain what matters and how the proposal affects it.
A Heritage Statement should provide the decision-maker with enough information to understand the heritage significance of the site and assess the effect of the proposed development. The level of detail should be proportionate to the asset, the works and the likely impact.
For a listed building, that can mean identifying the historic fabric, architectural interest, later alterations and the contribution made by particular rooms, elevations or features. In a conservation area, the assessment may focus more strongly on townscape, materials, street pattern, views and the contribution the site makes to the area's character and appearance.
The report should then connect that understanding directly to the proposal — explaining why the design, materials and interventions are appropriate, where effects arise and whether mitigation or amendments are needed.
When Heritage Assessment Is Needed
Different heritage contexts require different levels of assessment.
We tailor the scope to the nature of the asset and proposal rather than using the same template for every historic property.
Listed Buildings
Alterations to a listed building
Assessment of significance, historic fabric and the effect of internal or external works, including applications for Listed Building Consent.
Conservation Areas
Development within a conservation area
Assessment of character, appearance, townscape and how the proposal responds to the qualities that make the area distinctive.
Setting
Development near a heritage asset
Consideration of whether the development would affect the setting or experience of a listed building, scheduled monument or other heritage asset.
Conversions
Historic building conversion or change of use
Assessment of how a new use, new openings, services, subdivision or associated works would affect significance and historic character.
New Development
Development in a sensitive historic context
Heritage-led analysis where new buildings, extensions or redevelopment need to respond carefully to historic townscape or village character.
Heritage Statements across the whole of Norfolk
Local heritage planning support across Norfolk.
Norfolk's historic environment is exceptionally varied. Norwich combines a dense historic city centre, conservation areas, listed buildings and sensitive urban townscape, while the wider county includes market towns, villages, rural estates, historic farm buildings and coastal settlements with very different planning and heritage contexts.
Cedar Planning is locally based and provides heritage planning support across the county. We can prepare Heritage Statements as a standalone service or as part of a wider planning application where heritage, design and planning policy need to be presented together.
For broader local planning advice, our Norfolk Planning Consultant page explains the wider planning services available across the county.
Heritage + Planning
Need a Planning Statement as well as a Heritage Statement in Norfolk?
Yes. Where a proposal needs both heritage assessment and a broader planning case, Cedar Planning can prepare the documents together so they work as one coherent submission.
The Heritage Statement focuses on significance, setting and the heritage effects of the proposal. The Planning Statement can address the wider development plan, principle of development, design, amenity, fallback positions and overall planning balance.
For Norfolk projects this can be particularly useful where a listed building or conservation area issue is only one part of a more complex planning case. It avoids duplication and helps ensure the planning and heritage reasoning are consistent throughout the application.
Our Heritage Statement Process
A focused route from initial review to submission-ready report.
The scope is tailored to the site, but the process is designed to keep the assessment proportionate and decision-focused.
Significance
We identify the aspects of the building, site, conservation area or setting that contribute most clearly to heritage significance.
Impact Assessment
We assess the proposal against that significance and identify where design justification, mitigation or amendments may be beneficial.
Final Report
We prepare a clear Heritage Statement suitable for submission with the planning or Listed Building Consent application.
Who We Work With
Heritage planning support for homeowners, architects and developers.
The same heritage principles apply across projects, but the commercial and practical needs of each client can be very different.
Homeowners
Extensions, alterations, windows, annexes, conversions and works to listed or conservation area properties.
Planning ApplicationsArchitects
Reliable planning and heritage support that integrates with the design process and wider consultant team.
Work With UsDevelopers
Heritage-led assessment for redevelopment, conversion, change of use and schemes affecting historic settings.
Planning ConsultancyComplex Applications
Heritage Statements prepared alongside Planning Statements, Design & Access Statements and wider planning strategy.
Design & Access Statements
About Cedar Planning
Heritage assessment with the wider planning strategy in mind.
Cedar Planning is led by Dan Malloy MRTPI, a Chartered Town Planner with more than a decade of public and private-sector planning experience. Our heritage work is prepared as part of a planning-led service, so the assessment remains closely connected to the application strategy and decision-making context.
We work with homeowners, architects, developers and landowners across England, with particularly strong local coverage across Norfolk and Norwich.
Heritage Statement FAQs
Common questions about heritage planning reports.
The correct scope depends on the asset and proposal, but these questions cover some of the issues clients raise most often.
What is a Heritage Statement?
A Heritage Statement explains the significance of a heritage asset or historic place and assesses how the proposed development would affect that significance. It should be proportionate to the asset and works proposed.
Do I need a Heritage Statement for a listed building?
Applications affecting listed buildings commonly need proportionate information explaining significance and impact. The exact scope depends on the nature of the works and the Local Planning Authority's requirements.
Do I need a Heritage Statement in a conservation area?
It depends on the proposal and its potential effect on the character or appearance of the conservation area. Where heritage effects are relevant, a proportionate Heritage Statement can help explain the design and planning case.
Can Cedar Planning prepare a Heritage Statement and Planning Statement together?
Yes. We can prepare both documents where the proposal needs a heritage assessment and a wider planning case. For Norfolk projects, our Planning Statements in Norfolk service can be combined with the Heritage Statement.
Can you help with Heritage Statements in Norwich?
Yes. Cedar Planning provides heritage planning support in Norwich and across Norfolk, including listed buildings, conservation areas, conversions, extensions and proposals affecting the setting of heritage assets.
Can you work with my architect?
Yes. We regularly work alongside architects and other consultants so that the heritage assessment, planning strategy and design response are consistent before submission.
Need a Heritage Statement for a planning or listed building application?
Send us the property address, a short description of the proposed works and any drawings or planning references you already have. We can review the project and provide a clear fixed-fee quotation.
Get in Touch
Need a heritage statement in Norfolk?
Our local consultants can provide fast, professional reports tailored to your project.