We hear a lot about ‘sustainability’ and ‘sustainable development’ but what does it mean?

Sustainable development is all about achieving an acceptable quality of life without damaging the future for successive generations. We must ensure that activities that have to be carried out to meet our needs now can be continued in the future.

What does sustainability have to do with heritage?

Our historic environment comprises archaeological remains, features of local history, historic buildings, historic landscapes, settlements, and much more.

These are a valuable and diminishing resource. We aim to protect these through a strategy based on sustainability:

  • Developing a stronger understanding of the historic environment
  • Deciding which elements of the environment are to be conserved
  • Keeping our activities to levels that do not permanently damage the environment by taking a long term view
  • Ensuring that decisions about the historic environment are made on the basis of the best possible information
  • Developing projects that incorporate these policies, including a best practice guide for developers
  • Promoting heritage in the built environment.

If you'd like to find out more about how our heritage is protected, please contact us.

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