The historic environment continues below the low tide mark, and developments affecting the maritime environment must take account of their impacts just as on land. English Heritage’s policy statement, Ports: the impact of development on the maritime historic environment, gives information on the nature of these impacts and how they can be evaluated and mitigated.

The policy statement is intended to inform developers and others about the importance and relevance of the historic environment in relation to ports, and how it must be taken into account in development proposals. It focuses mainly on the marine aspect of new developments, but also touches on the development of existing ports and inland impacts of development, and gives pointers to useful policy documents to inform these aspects.