On 17 January, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, announced new laws to protect England’s cultural and historic heritage.
The new legal protections mean that historic statues should be ‘retained and explained’ for future generations. Individuals who want to remove any historic statue, whether listed or not, will now require listed building consent or planning permission.
Under the new regulations, if the council intends to grant permission for removal of a particular statue and Historic England objects, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government will be notified so he can make the final decision about the application in question.
The new rules will also apply to unlisted historic plaques, memorials or monuments which will also require planning permission and Historic England to be informed.
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