Heritage Alliance shares manifesto for policy change

The Heritage Alliance has published a five-point manifesto calling on all political parties for support ahead of the next UK general election.

The alliance, a coalition of 200 heritage organisations, says the £36 billion heritage industry is facing several challenges, including volunteering and visitor numbers yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, specialist skills becoming increasingly endangered and a national retrofit imperative to meet climate change priorities.

In response, the manifesto has been developed collaboratively to draw attention to key policy measures that would help safeguard the sector’s future.

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Heritage Alliance Chief Executive Lizzie Glithero-West says the manifesto sets out a number of practical areas in which any future administration can make a tangible difference.

“Support for heritage is an investment, not a bail-out. We strongly urge all parties to adopt these measures in their manifestos,” Glithero-West said.

Policies

Among the priorities are empowering councils and communities to protect local heritage through measures such as targeted regeneration schemes, removing permitted development on demolition, and incentivising reuse of historic buildings.

The manifesto also calls for reforms to the tax regime. Heritage repairs are currently subject to 20% VAT, while no VAT is charged on demolitions or new builds. The manifesto calls for a 0% equalisation of VAT for works to all buildings, tested through a pilot scheme, to reduce the “perverse incentive to demolish old buildings rather than repairing and reusing them”.

Policy recommendations to help the heritage industry meet its net zero targets include reforming Energy Performance Certificates and a new National Retrofit Strategy. It adds that Environmental Land Management schemes should provide long-term funding to land managers of at least £4.4 billion a year.

The manifesto also calls for adequate funding to ensure the continued stability of arm's-lengths heritage bodies, subsidised entry for youth visits to heritage sites in the curriculum, and reform of the Apprenticeship Levy.

“By expanding apprenticeships, encouraging volunteering and investing in cultural learning, more people can experience the personal, social, and educational benefits of engaging with heritage whilst boosting sector capacity,” the manifesto says.

Richard Parry, Chief Executive of the Canal & River Trust, says the manifesto is launched “as government has just announced damaging real-term funding cuts for our historic canal network and all its vital heritage structures”.

“It is therefore a timely reminder of the partnership role of government which, unless it provides realistic funding, will turn the clock back on one of the nation’s greatest heritage regeneration stories, and leading to the loss of substantial public benefits.”

Director of Historic Houses, Dr Ben Cowell, added: “The Heritage Alliance’s manifesto is stalwart as ever in its defence of those unsung heroes of heritage – the owners, managers and custodians who do so much to keep our precious buildings and landscapes in good repair”.