The Institute of Historic Building Conservation is currently carrying out a survey for English Heritage on the use and effectiveness of Listed Building Repairs Notices, Urgent Works Notices, Compulsory Purchase and other statutory action.

Reductions to budgets mean that nearly everything local government does is being re-evaluated and historic environment services, which are non statutory and have often evolved to meet the needs of the local community, are not exempt.

A public consultation on the draft Good Practice Guide for Local Listing was launched on Friday 18 February. It is another milestone in the continuing Heritage Protection Reform programme and supports the policies and principles of Planning Policy Statement 5 (PPS5) dealing with the identification and management of local heritage assets using local lists.

Crimes and anti-social behaviour that damage England's historic environment will for the first time be tackled in a much more coordinated way through a new initiative launched by English Heritage today (11th February 2011).

The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 proposes to modernise inshore fisheries management in England by replacing Sea Fisheries Committees with Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs).

English Heritage has come together with partners within the heritage sector, and the Development Trust Association's Asset Transfer Unit, to publish new guidance on transfering heritage assets from local authorities to community groups. The guidance outlines the process from both the local authority and community perspective and is accompanied by both a summary document and a number of case studies.

This year’s Heritage Counts report prepared by English Heritage on behalf of the heritage sector, shows that investing in heritage doesn’t just make us feel better, it makes sound economic sense, especially at the local level.

English Heritage has commissioned research to take forward recommendations in an ALGAO report ‘GIS guidance for Historic Environment Records in England’ - January 2010 to investigate how England’s local authorities use GIS to maintain Historic Environment Records (HERs). How is information recorded, managed and accessed? And how useful is it to the planning process?

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Transport Secretary Philip Hammond are concerned that the character of the country's urban spaces is being damaged and have urged local authorities to reduce the number of signs and other 'street clutter'. English Heritage shares this concern. We have produced detailed regional guidance and a series of practical case studies help promote the restoration of the character of our streets.

English Heritage invites your views on The Setting of Heritage Assets: English Heritage guidance

We continue to make improvements to the designation process and there are two new exciting developments that are happening this year, the first is the launch of an on-line application form for designation.