Heritage

The CLA’s 38,000 members manage or own half of rural England and Wales, more than half of rural heritage, and probably a quarter of all heritage. Our members spend tens of millions of pounds on repairing historic buildings each year, welcome millions of visitors, paying and non-paying, and make thousands of applications for planning permission and listed building consent. We are unquestionably one of the biggest and most important ‘stakeholder’ groups in the heritage field.

Making heritage a source of pleasure and income - rather than anxiety and cost - is one of the biggest challenges faced by many CLA members.

The CLA is taking an increasing interest in heritage, both in helping members and in lobbying for change, and has a specialist Heritage Adviser, Jonathan Thompson, and a Heritage Working Group of CLA members, chaired by Henry Shaw.

Regularly-updated CLA heritage news appears below, and we are adding further content to this heritage section of the CLA website:

CLA heritage news (frequently-updated)

Frequently-asked heritage questions (for example whether you need Listed Building Consent, whether you will get it, whether anyone will give you a grant)

CLA Heritage Policy

The CLA 2005-06 Member Heritage Survey report "Who pays for Heritage" published August 2006

There are links to a number of relevant external websites at the foot of this page.

Not a CLA member Few heritage organisations are actively working for those who own heritage property (and pay to maintain it). As a CLA member you can benefit from free advice on heritage alongside our other advice services on tax, law, planning, and the rural economy. You do not necessarily need to farm, or to own any significant amount of land to join - a high proportion of our members have a house, a few outbuildings, and a small amount of land. Further benefits of membership can be obtained here or via the home page of this website.

Contacts and Feedback

For prompt advice please contact your CLA regional surveyor or adviser in the first instance. » Adviser Contacts

Jonathan Thompson MA MBA DipM - Heritage Adviser

Advises on heritage issues. After experience in property development, he ran the Landmark Trust's historic buildings holiday letting business 1995-2000, was then chief executive of the Architectural Heritage Fund 2000-03, and has been involved directly and indirectly in hundreds of historic building regeneration projects across the UK. He is also a Consultant at CgMs, one of the largest firms of historic buildings and planning consultants.

Phone: 020 7460 7942
Fax: 020 7235 4696
Email jonathan.thompson@cla.org.uk

Fenella Collins MRICS - Senior Planning Adviser

Responsible for national planning policy issues. Also provides advice to members on development control issues.

Phone: 020 7460 7944
Fax: 020 7235 4696
Email fenella.collins@cla.org.uk

Christopher Price - Public Law Adviser

A solicitor, advises on administrative law issues, including conservation and heritage issues, planning and compulsory purchase.

Phone: 020 7460 7953
Fax: 020 7235 4696
Email christopher.price@cla.org.uk