Culture secretary Andy Burnham today (2 April) published draft legislation to unify heritage protection regimes, allow greater public involvement in decisions and place heritage at the heart of the planning system.

The draft Heritage Protection Bill is the first piece of legislation in this field for 30 years, and will now be scrutinised by parliament.

The bill plans to create a ‘heritage register’ – which will replace listing, scheduling and registering and give the public a greater say in what gets protected – and to devolve responsibility for the designating land-based assets in England from the DCMS to English Heritage.

Andy Burnham said: “Heritage protection is as important as anything else we do in this department. But nobody can sit in an office in London and decide what is heritage or not. Local communities have strong feelings about their own heritage and it is important that those voices are heard.

“We welcome the widest possible debate and, if there are proposals for further changes, we will consider them carefully in the light of all the views expressed.”

Lord Bruce Lockhart, chair of English Heritage, added: “Today’s publication of the draft Heritage Bill is a major step forward towards the way England’s heritage is identified, protected and managed. We need reform which simplifies, which brings efficiency and effectiveness, which involves the public and adds clear and visible accountability.”