Whether you are navigating early-stage DCO negotiations or require technical oversight for on-site delivery, our team provides the creative and commercial guidance necessary to navigate this new planning era.
The 2026 Heritage Outlook: Turning Policy Revisions into Development Drivers
03 Feb 26
2026 is set to be a year of transition, where strategic heritage advice must work harder than ever to navigate the intersection of growth and conservation
As we step into our new roles as Directors co-leading Iceni’s London Heritage and Townscape team, here are our predictions for the year
Policy change will be a defining feature for the first half of the year. Those who scrolled all the way down to Chapter 20 of the consultation draft NPFF may have spotted a few changes to heritage policy. These mainly seek to enshrine key case law into policy wording, rather than upending usual practice. The key takeaway being a clear positive emphasis on delivering heritage benefits and the strategic management of heritage impacts. We have already seen this approach being used effectively at The Wheat Quarter in Welwyn Garden City, demonstrating how a sophisticated heritage strategy can turn perceived constraints into the primary drivers of sustainable redevelopment.
Retrofit has moved from an aspirational goal to a commercial mandate within the draft NPPF, where creative adaptation is the key to securing the future of historic office spaces. The most consequential change is the push to align conservation with climate goals, suggesting that the benefits of improving the performance of a listed building will hold weight in decision making. Another key driver for 2026 will be the push to increase density, focussed within ‘reasonable walking distance’ of ‘well connected’ stations in the draft NPPF.
Design quality also remains high on the agenda with the recent publication of the draft Design and Placemaking PPG. However, as the challenging circumstances for developers continue, whether these measures can meaningfully unlock housing delivery is still to play for.
As such, the transition from consent to completion is going to be the most important conversation for getting development out of the ground. Rebecca is focusing on the post-consent horizon, where ensuring historic integrity is protected through to the final brick is vital for developer certainty.
Similarly, Georgia is focussing on the role of heritage in Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). Infrastructure is likely to remain a huge priority this year, particularly with the ongoing legislative and policy changes. And with Iceni’s DCO team, we have found embedding consideration of heritage early in the design and consultation process is important to successfully delivering DCOs, from solar farms to strategic rail freight infrastructure
Whether you are navigating early-stage DCO negotiations or require technical oversight for on-site delivery, our team provides the creative and commercial guidance necessary to navigate this new planning era.
Please do get in touch with either of us or visit our website to discuss how we can assist in navigating heritage and townscape in 2026.
Rebecca Mason
Director,Built Heritage and Townscape
Georgia Foy
Director,Built Heritage and Townscape ,Development Consent Orders
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