English Heritage (EH) has welcomed the new Planning Policy Statement for the historic environment (PPS5) that has been launched by the government. The government's Statement on the Historic Environment was launched at the same time and provides the context for PPS5 and sets out how heritage contributes to a wide range of government objectives.

EH believes that PPS5 brings a new, integrated approach to the historic environment, removing the distinction between buildings, archaeological remains and landscapes and being a major step forward in achieving Heritage Protection Reform. The heritage body took a lead in preparing the Practice Guide that accompanies PPS5, which explains how the policies in the PPS can be applied and explains how the historic environment should be integrated into and considered during the planning process.

Baroness Andrews, chair of English Heritage, said: "We fully support the principles contained in PPS5 which clearly recognises the vital social, economic and environmental benefits of all heritage assets and maintains the robust framework of heritage protection. "In addition, the PPS brings heritage planning guidance into line with wider changes to planning legislation and English Heritage's own best-practice and allows for simpler, more transparent decisions which reflect the significance of the asset and its setting."

In order to help people working in heritage and planning to understand the implications of the new PPS, EH is organising workshop events across the country during April - Cambridge on the 20th; Preston, 23rd; Gloucester, 26th; and Basingstoke, 27th - as well as providing additional guidance online.