Due to a shortage of experts, Historic England, tasked with protecting the country’s historical environment, announced that it will cut down on advice given to planning applications. The organisation will only process plans which pose ‘the highest risk’ to historical buildings. Authorities in the field fear the measures mean irreversible damage to England’s built cultural heritage.
Historic England (wiki)
Historic England is a non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It is tasked with protecting the historical environment of England by preserving and listing historic buildings, ancient monuments and advising central and local government.
In cases of development plans and proposals affecting the historic environment, it is notified of and consulted.
Read more at the Architect’s Journal.