This guidance has been developed by the Highways Agency and English Heritage to complement the new chapter in the updated Cultural Heritage section of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges.

Assessing the Effect of Road Schemes on Historic Landscape Character has direct applicability to roads, but the principles also apply to types of development.  These could include other modes of transport whether linear such as railways or other developments such as airport expansion.  The assessment principles can be extended to other developments, particularly those that may have a significant effect on the landscape, such as windfarms or large scale developments like a new reservoir or power station.  The advantage of the characterisation approach is that it gives us the big picture, and as such is a useful tool for influencing change across all the historic environment rather than assiduously guarding a few highlights.