The Gardens Trust is a statutory consultee in the English planning system. This means that local authorities have to consult us on any planning applications that affect gardens and landscapes listed on Historic England’s Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest.
In March 2025 the government announced that it was considering removing our role as statutory consultee, a move which will put parks and gardens at greater risk of damage and total destruction.
The government public consultation on this proposal has now closed and we thank everyone who responded and who is continuing to support us.
The Gardens Trust, formerly the Garden History Society, has been a statutory consultee since 1995 and responds to applications affecting sites on the Register at all Grades – Grade I, II* and II. Grade II sites make up c65% of Registered sites.
Read more about the planning system in England and the protection of historic parks and gardens in our leaflet.
The government has said that there are problems around statutory consultees such as:
- failing to engage proactively;
- taking too long to provide their advice;
- re-opening issues that have already been dealt with in local plans;
- submitting automatic holding objections which are then withdrawn at a late stage; and
- submitting advice that seeks gold-plated outcomes, going beyond what is necessary to make development acceptable in planning terms.
The Gardens Trust does not recognize the Government’s description of statutory consultees in relation to our work – we respond to consultations in a timely manner, offering constructive pragmatic advice to local planning authorities, with objections in only a tiny minority of cases.
Read more about our response to the governments announcement:
You can also read our latest press releases via our Media Centre.
We need your help
There are a number of different ways you can continue to help us from joining, raising awareness of our work or donating.
- Join us today for just £45 and help us to protect parks and gardens
- Organisations can help by writing letters in support of our work to protect parks and gardens.
- Consider donating to help with advocacy, PR campaigns and staff time and resources which will help us continue to campaign on behalf of historic designed landscapes.
- Or support us for free by signing up to our monthly ebulletin or following us on social media @thegardenstrust.
Thank you for your support.
