Historic Environment
Contains Options
Southampton is a major maritime city located in an area that has been inhabited since the earliest prehistoric times through to the present day. The city contains a wealth of heritage assets of national and local significance. They include buried archaeological remains, standing structures and buildings, historic areas and landscapes, and hedgerows. Of particular note are the medieval remains within the Old Town such as the Bargate and town walls. Also of interest are the historic villages around which the suburbs of the modern city developed, and the surviving layout of historic streets and roads across the city.
The importance of heritage assets and how they positively contribute to the nation`s past is recognised in legislation in the Planning (Listed Building & Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.
Section 16 of the National Planning Policy Framework (July 2021) also affords great weight to the protection of the historic environment and states that individual assets of the historic environment which display a degree of significance because of their heritage interest merit consideration in planning decisions.
It goes on to say that when considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation, the more important the asset, the greater that weight should be. It also notes that heritage assets are irreplaceable, and any harm or loss should require clear and convincing justification.
The council is therefore committed to preserving and enhancing the city’s heritage assets and their settings, and historic landscapes and street patterns, recognising that the historic environment makes a significant contribution to a sense of place, helping to make Southampton a desirable place to live, visit and work. A commitment to the historic environment of the city represents investment in a sustainable future.