We publish free guidance relating to the conservation of historic designed landscapes.
The Planning System in England and the Protection of Historic Parks and Gardens
We publish a guidance leaflet, The Planning System in England and the Protection of Historic Parks and Gardens. This leaflet explains the place of historic designed landscapes in the planning system, the importance of assessing significance, the statutory consultation obligations and the role of the Gardens Trust and the County Gardens Trusts. You can download a copy of the leaflet below.
Planning and Conservation Advice Notes
The Gardens Trust is custodian of a series of advice notes (PCANs) published by the Garden History Society which predate the National Planning Policy Framework (first published in 2012).
The PCANs were designed to provide outline briefing on various types of development and good conservation practice and to help critical evaluation of the likely impacts. The PCANs stress that not all impact is adverse, change is not necessarily detrimental, and opportunities do exist both for development and, where adverse impact has been identified, for appropriate mitigation. Informed evaluation is essential however, if irreversible damage to be avoided and change is to be implemented in a way that is sympathetic to the historic and visual value of designed landscape.
Please note: any references to the planning system and planning policy (and particularly Section 8 ‘Planning Context’ in each PCAN and Appendix 3) have now be superseded and each PCAN must be read in the context of the current National Planning Policy Framework published by the Government (last update 7 February 2025). Government department names have changed since the CANs were published.
PCAN 1: Change of Use (of landscape, and of principal and/or subsidiary buildings)
PCAN 2: Hotel and Leisure Development
PCAN 3: Extension of Educational/Institutional Establishments
PCAN 6: Vehicle Parking and Access
PCAN 7: Treatment of Boundaries and Entrances
PCAN 8: Telecommunications Masts
PCAN 9: Development of Domestic Amenities
PCAN 11: Development in the Setting of Historic Designed Landscape
PCAN 12: Evaluation of New Landscape Features
PCAN 13: Briefs for Historic Landscape Assessments
PCAN 14: Management Plans (including Statements of Significance)
- Lists of subsidiary development generated by particular types of change
- General Evaluation Checklist (All types development/all types landscape)
- Planning Context. Please note this is out of date.
Links to other guidance
Historic England produces guidance and policy on all aspects of managing the historic environment. Here is a selection of advice useful for historic parks and gardens.
Information on designation and technical conservation matters, including:
- What Are Registered Parks and Gardens? | Historic England
- Looking After Parks, Gardens and Landscapes | Historic England
Planning advice (on a range of topics, including significance, setting, enabling development, conservation areas and local lists):
Resource Hub
Our Resource Hub contains a large range of support materials to help County Gardens Trusts and other groups in their conservation work.
