Heritage Counts is the annual State of the Historic Environment Report produced by English Heritage on behalf of the wider heritage sector. It contains data and new research relating to the quality and extent of our historic assets, the social and economic benefits they bring, and the threats that they are under. Each year focuses on a different topic or issue. 

Heritage Counts 2003 was published in November 2003, and updated the data information presented in the original State of the Historic Environment Report  (2002). Nine regional Heritage Counts documents were published alongside the national document

As the report demonstrates, the historic environment has a strong role to play in promoting liveability in urban and rural areas. One recent survey suggested that 85% of the population were ‘interested in’ or ‘very interested in’ the state of their local environment, and recognised the relationship with their overall quality of life. Over two million households suffer significant litter and rubbish in the areas where they live, and around 1.5 million households are troubled by graffiti and vandalism. There is clear and high public demand for higher quality homes and neighbourhoods

Other key points to note from Heritage Counts 2003 report include:

• The threats to the historic environment, for instance from piecemeal unregulated development in conservation areas and the neglect or development of historic parks and gardens
• More evidence of the practicality and sustainability of old buildings. For example, research has shown that a Victorian terraced house is cheaper to  maintain over the long-run than a house built in the 1980s
• The economic benefits of heritage tourism
• Heritage volunteering contributes an estimated £25 million per year to the economy
• More evidence about the barriers that prevent people from participating in heritage activities. 

To download the Heritage Counts 2003 summary and view the latest Heritage Counts report please click on the links in the right hand column.

Visit the Heritage Counts website at:  www.heritagecounts.org.uk