Why do we decide that parts of our built environment are worth the special attention that heritage designation brings? How can the character of conservation areas and other historic places continue to evolve to provide new housing, release their economic potential and enhance communities? What are the principles to understand when judging the impact of new development or alterations to our significant heritage assets? And what about the future of conservation? In seeking to answer such questions, this book provides a grounding for planners and other related professionals in the key concepts associated with conservation and how to apply them in practice.

It begins by setting out the values and principles that underpin the current conservation-planning systems, explaining their historic context and evolution and critically examining these systems and possible counter approaches. Illustrated by a wide range of examples of historic and modern buildings, conservation areas, world heritage sites, parks and gardens, it then focuses upon decision-making and the management of change. It discusses how the conservation of the historic environment has become increasingly linked to other social and economic policy objectives before identifying key lessons and implications for future policy development and planning practice.