Policies in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the London Plan and Lewisham’s new local plan (2025) include policies which recognise the value of the historic environment and seek to retain and re-use it in development proposals.
ASLCs will become referred to as non designated heritage assets. A heritage asset is defined in the (NPPF) Annex 2 Glossary as “A building, monument, site, place, area or landscape identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions, because of its heritage interest. It includes designated heritage assets and assets identified by the local planning authority (including local listing).” The assets identified by the Council are termed non-designated heritage assets.
Heritage assets are recognised in NPPF paragraphs 195 as irreplaceable resources that should be conserved in a manner appropriate to their significance, so that they can be enjoyed for their contribution to the quality of life of existing and future generations.
The London Plan (2021) London Plan Policy HC1Heritage Conservation and Growth recognises and seeks to preserve the importance of London's historic environment, represented in its built form, landscape heritage and archaeology.
Lewisham Local Plan (2025)
HE1: Lewisham’s historic environment – The Council will seek to preserve or enhance the value and significance of Lewisham’s historic environment and its setting by celebrating Lewisham’s historic environment and ensuring that it is central to reinforcing sense of place and place making; ensuring the significance of the Borough’s heritage assets is fully understood, positively valued and that their contribution to
sustainable neighbourhoods and communities is recognised, including by preparing a Heritage Strategy; requiring that heritage meaningfully informs the design of development proposals, and only supporting development that preserves or enhances the significance of heritage assets and their setting; promoting heritage-led regeneration and urban renewal as a means to retain, reveal or reinstate significant aspects of the Borough’s historic environment; requiring development proposals to demonstrate that all reasonable measures have been investigated to avoid harm to heritage assets.
HE3: Non-designated heritage assets - Development proposals will only be supported where they preserve or enhance the significance of a locally listed building or other non-designated heritage asset, and the asset’s setting. In particular, proposals for the sensitive retention, refurbishment and appropriate re-use of non-designated assets will be considered favourably.
Within Areas of Special Local Character development proposals
must:
- Preserve the characteristics that contribute to the area’s significance, which may include the spatial, architectural, townscape, landscape or archaeological distinctiveness;
- Secure the retention of unlisted buildings where these contribute positively to the local distinctiveness of the area; and
- Ensure development in its setting preserves the area’s special local character.
