English Heritage, the national historic environment agency, has welcomed a number of reforms contained with the newly-published Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill.

Among alterations to the legislation is the merger of conservation area consent back into the planning system, while the establishment of Heritage Partnership agreements has also been enabled.

The organisation said improvements to the heritage protection system contained within the new-look bill had been sought for a number of years.

An English Heritage spokesperson said: "Together with the appropriate regulation to support them, these reforms will maintain levels of protection for the historic environment."

Details: www.english-heritage.org.uk (English Heritage)

Details: www.parliament.uk (Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill 2012-13)