Historic Environment Action Plans

The AONB Historic Environment Action Plans, or HEAPs for short, provide a summary of the key characteristics of the historic environment of the AONB at a landscape scale.

The Historic Environment includes all archaeological and historic aspects of the landscape including buildings, settlements, archaeological sites, and the the wider historic landscape character.

The HEAPs draw are based on a robust evidence base including Historic Environment Records, the AONB Historic Landscape Characterisation, and other studies and documents.

The summary of key characteristics are split into two interelated parts:

• Geographically discrete Historic Landscape Character Areas
• AONB wide Historic Landscape Themes

The HEAP project will now progress to provide a statement of significance for each area and theme and detail the condiition and issues of the characteristics identified.

The project will also detail forces for change effecting the historic characteristics of the landscape.

The Historic Environment Action Plans are being funded by English Heritage and are designed as a best practice exemplar for other protected areas.

The production of the HEAPs is overseen by a dedicated steering group.