A heritage consultant is an IHBC-accredited specialist who advises on the significance of historic buildings and places and navigates the consents and assessment requirements for development affecting the historic environment. Their primary output is the written assessment - heritage statements, heritage impact assessments, desk-based assessments and EIA heritage chapters - that local planning authorities, Historic England and planning inspectors rely on in decision-making.
What they do
- Prepare heritage statements and design and access statements
- Produce Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs)
- Write heritage chapters for Environmental Impact Assessments
- Carry out heritage desk-based assessments
- Advise on listed building consent requirements
- Engage with Historic England at pre-application stage
- Produce conservation area appraisals for local authorities
- Advise on the setting of heritage assets
When you need one
A heritage consultant is needed whenever a planning application or development proposal may affect a designated or non-designated heritage asset.
Typical costs (UK, 2025)
| Job type | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Heritage desk-based assessment | £800 - £2,500 |
| Heritage impact assessment (HIA) | £1,500 - £6,000+ |
| EIA heritage chapter | £2,000 - £8,000+ |
| Conservation area appraisal | £2,000 - £6,000+ |
| Setting assessment | £800 - £3,000 |
| Hourly rate | £75 - £140 / hr |
EIA heritage chapters and complex World Heritage Site assessments at the upper end. Confirm whether the fee includes Historic England pre-application meetings and any attendance at planning committee.
Qualifications to look for
IHBC membership is the primary qualification for heritage consultants. Required or strongly expected by local planning authorities for heritage statements supporting listed building and planning applications. Find IHBC members at ihbc.org.uk.
How to find a reputable heritage consultant
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a heritage consultant and a conservation architect?
A heritage consultant focuses on the assessment and significance of heritage assets and the policy framework - they write heritage statements and navigate consent processes. A conservation architect designs physical interventions and manages construction on historic buildings. On complex projects both may be needed: the heritage consultant addressing significance and consent, the conservation architect producing design drawings.
What is the setting of a heritage asset?
The surroundings in which a heritage asset is experienced - development affecting the setting of a listed building or scheduled monument can require listed building consent or planning permission and a heritage assessment even if the development is not physically close to the asset. Historic England's guidance on setting (GPA3) explains how setting assessments should be carried out.
What is Historic England?
The government advisory body (an arm's length body of DCMS) responsible for protecting England's historic environment. It advises local planning authorities on planning applications affecting nationally significant heritage assets, maintains the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens and the Heritage at Risk Register, and manages the national designation process for listed buildings and scheduled monuments.