This policy statement sets out the broad principles of English Heritage’s vision for long-term national transport policy. It is intended to inform decisions at local and regional levels as well as stating English Heritage’s position on Government policy.

From prehistoric trackways and Roman roads to the great age of steam, transport has played a vital role in creating the historic environment of England.  Today’s transport system can make equally important contributions to our environment. But, if badly planned, it could also have a serious impact on our heritage.

Transport can impact on the historic environment in two ways: existing traffic and the construction of new infrastructure.  Increasing levels of congestion can have an impact on the quality of life in towns, cities and the countryside, as well as detracting from historic areas and buildings.  English Heritage is also concerned about the impact of significant new infrastructure, or schemes which may be small scale but could have a disproportionate impact on particularly sensitive historic sites.

Transport and the Historic Environment [insert hyperlink to document]sets out English Heritage’s vision for long-term transport policy, where Government, its agencies and local authorities would co-operate to:

• Encourage a switch to less damaging forms of transport and promote planning policies that help to reduce the need to travel
• Seek imaginative solutions to transport problems
• Ensure that transport appraisals properly assess the impacts of development on the historic environment
• Take account of the wider historic environment
• Continue to promote good design and push hard for proposals that recognise local and regional distinctiveness
• Encourage innovative transport management strategies; and
• Minimise the impact of air travel on the historic environment.

This policy statement was published in March 2004.