Heritage at Risk Statistics Method Statement

What we publish and when

In late summer each year, we publish national official and key statistical information. These statistics set out the total number of sites at risk across England recorded in the individual site records. The statistics produced are checked and validated national data as set out below. 

In late autumn each year, we publish the Heritage at Risk Register online which contains management information about individual sites at risk. This includes:

• Individual site information via an online searchable Heritage at Risk Register: descriptions of each heritage site on the Register, including its parliamentary constituency, local planning authority, location, designation, risk methodology, site type, condition, vulnerability and trend. Each asset on the Register has a nominated contact who is responsible for the record for that entry on the Register. They are named in the Register with a telephone number. This is a Historic England staff member for all entry types except conservation areas and Grade II secular buildings in Greater London where the nominated contact is from the relevant local authority.
• The Register in ODS spreadsheet format: providing the data in the web search in a spreadsheet format allowing people to interact with the data across geographical boundaries not included in the web search.
• The Register as open data GIS mapping

Numerical data provided to the media is primarily at a government region, ceremonial county, or local planning authority sub-national level. This numerical data can be found or calculated from the information that has been released.

The figures cited in our statistics and entries included in the Register reflect assets designated on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) as it is on the 31 March of the year the data is published.

Please note that the Register currently does not cover the majority of Grade II secular buildings outside of Greater London.

Further information on our Heritage at Risk Programme in general is available on our website.

Please address any questions about this method statement to Heritage.atRisk@HistoricEngland.org.uk.

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What methodologies are used to assess risk?

The Heritage at Risk Register does not cover non-designated heritage assets nor most Grade II listed buildings outside London, with the exception of places of worship or those that are dual-designated as scheduled monuments.

Heritage assets are assessed using the appropriate risk assessment methodology type (“methodology types”). 

The following methodology types are used on the Register:

• Buildings and structures risk assessments – for Grade I and II* listed secular buildings and structures; Grade II listed secular buildings and structures in Greater London; and structural scheduled monuments (those with upstanding remains)
• Places of worship risk assessments – for listed buildings of all grades (I, II* and II) in use as places of worship
• Archaeology risk assessments – for scheduled monuments with non-structural remains, below ground and/or earthworks
• Registered parks and gardens risk assessments
• Registered battlefields risk assessments
• Protected wreck sites risk assessments
• Conservation areas risk assessments

Depending on their current use, listed buildings can be assessed under either the buildings and structures or places of worship methodologies.

Depending on whether a scheduled monument consists of buildings or structural remains, earthworks, and/or buried remains, they can be assessed under either the buildings and structures and/or the archaeology methodologies. (They will have separate entries under both methodologies if they have both below ground/earthwork and structural remains).

Registered parks and gardens, registered battlefields, protected wrecks and conservation areas are assessed under the methodologies that align with their designation type.

Where a site is dual designated (as a listed building and a scheduled monument) it follows the methodologies appropriate to which elements of the site are at risk. If only its above ground remains or buildings or structures are at risk it will have a buildings and structures assessment. If only its below ground buried remains or earthworks are at risk it will have an archaeology assessment. If both elements are at risk then it will have an entry under both assessments (or more than one entry if there is more than one building on the site at risk).

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Data collection

How sites are identified for inclusion on the Register

Historic England works in partnership with local planning authorities, town and parish councils, amenity groups, community organisations and individuals (including owners) to identify potential ‘at risk’ assets to be assessed.

Anyone can bring to our attention assets that they are concerned are, or may become, at risk and propose eligible sites for addition to the Register. Information on how to suggest a change to the Heritage at Risk Register along with the contact details for our regional offices are both published on our website.

Once we have been notified of a site potentially at risk, suitably trained and qualified Historic England staff members will visit the site and carry out a risk assessment using the risk assessment methodologies for the various asset types.

Sites at risk may come to the attention of Historic England staff whilst carrying out other work. For example, when making site visits relating to Countryside Stewardship. Historic England provides a range of advice on Countryside Stewardship on behalf of Defra. If on a site visit the current risk status of a site appears to differ from that which is recorded, then the risk status will be re-assessed using the appropriate methodology and recorded for both Heritage at Risk and Countryside Stewardship monitoring purposes. 

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Who assesses whether a heritage asset is at risk and how?

Each of Historic England's regional teams typically includes conservation architects/surveyors, landscape architects, project officers and archaeologists, who will deploy the buildings and structures, places of worship, parks and gardens or archaeology risk assessment methods respectively.

Asset types that are smaller in number, for example protected wrecks, scheduled wrecks that are fully submerged and registered battlefields, are dealt with by specialists at a national level. Wrecks in intertidal areas are dealt with by the most appropriate national or regional specialist.

For sites at risk identified during Countryside Stewardship monitoring, the appropriate methodology is usually either the archaeology methodology or the buildings and structures methodology although on occasion it will be the parks and gardens or battlefields methodology. 

(For standalone Countryside Stewardship higher-tier capital grants Historic England also uses the methodologies to assess the status of unlisted and Grade II listed buildings not eligible for the Register so the monitoring information on those sites remains consistent with those that are eligible.)

Conservation areas, which are designated by local planning authorities (LPAs), are assessed by conservation officers or historic environment leads within the LPAs, and the risk assessments are moderated by Historic England staff to ensure consistency.

Each asset is assessed using the relevant risk assessment methodology, designed to consider the factors that typically put that type of asset at risk and to provide tools such as checklists, decision trees and flow charts that assist staff in making their assessment. (Learn more about the risk assessment methodologies below). Nevertheless, each building or structure, structural monument, archaeological site, park, garden, battlefield, wreck or conservation area is unique and survives in a unique context, and in each case professional judgement plays an essential part in the assessment process. The assessment does not just involve a ‘yes/no’ question of whether the asset is at risk, but is a balance of its condition, occupancy, vulnerability and trend where relevant.

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Informing owners 

Owners of heritage assets (with the exception of owners of assets within a conservation area) are informed in writing when an asset is added to, or removed from, the Register. In doing so, we emphasise that inclusion on the Register does not necessarily, or usually, imply criticism of the owner because the factors giving rise to the risk are very often beyond the reasonable control of the owner. We stress the value of the Register as a tool for Historic England and others to prioritise effort and to help owners find solutions, for example through advice and grant assistance.

Owners of buildings, structures, or land within conservation areas are not informed individually when the conservation area they own property in is added to, or removed from, the Register.

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Data calculations

How the Heritage at Risk statistics are calculated

The national official and key statistical information for Heritage at Risk are produced as a snapshot of the number of assets on the Register at a given point in time (31 March). The data is collated, cleaned and quality assured by separate teams and signed off at Director level.

Historic England hosts and maintains the NHLE on behalf of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Each year sites are added and removed from the NHLE which may mean the total number eligible for each methodology type changes.

Conservation areas are designated by local planning authorities. The local planning authorities are asked to update Historic England on new conservation area designations and de-designations each year so, as with the other methodology types, the total number of eligible conservation areas may change each year.

The statistics for all risk assessment types are published each year in late summer in a series of numbered tables:

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Data limitations

When looking at or re-using the annual Heritage at Risk statistics, you'll need to be aware of and consider limitations arising from: 

Despite these limitations, as the data grows year on year, the Heritage at Risk Register provides an indication of the state of England’s historic environment. Furthermore, the Register itself and the wider participation involved in generating it, helps communities to engage actively with their heritage and care for their historic environment. 

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Risk assessment methodologies

Heritage assets are assessed using the appropriate risk assessment methodology type. Follow the links below to learn about the methodologies used for:

1. Buildings and structures
2. Places of worship
3. Archaeology
4. Registered parks and gardens
5. Registered battlefields
6. Protected wreck sites
7. Conservation areas

1. Buildings and structures risk assessment methodology

This guidance/methodology applies to buildings and structures which are not in use or are in secular use (whether listed buildings or the structural parts of scheduled monuments). Buildings and structures in use as places of worship have their own guidance for assessment (see below).

Local planning authorities, amenity groups, community organisations and individuals can put forward nominations for Grade I and Grade II* listed buildings and structures (for Grade II listed buildings and structures in Greater London only) and structural scheduled monuments they believe should be added to the Register. They can also suggest updates to existing entries on the Register.

As a rule of thumb, listed buildings tend to be occupied or in use or capable of occupation or use, whereas some listed structures (such as walls, gates, monuments) and some structural scheduled monuments are not occupied or in use and may be partially ruinous. A typical listed building might be a historic house whereas a typical structural scheduled monument might be the upstanding ruins of a medieval castle or abbey, or industrial remains. However, part of the richness of our heritage is its diversity and many assets defy simple pigeonholing by type or combine different types within a single whole.

Historic England staff members assess buildings and structures nominated for inclusion on the Register, or which they have visited for other reasons.

Buildings and structures, including structural scheduled monuments, are assessed on their condition, combined where applicable, with their occupancy (or use).

Condition is graded as follows:

• very bad means a building or structure where there has been structural failure or where there are clear signs of structural instability; or where there has been loss of significant areas of the roof covering, leading to major deterioration of the interior; or where there has been a major fire or other disaster affecting most of the building; 
• poor means a building or structure with deteriorating masonry and/or a leaking roof and/or defective rainwater goods, usually accompanied by rot outbreaks within and general deterioration of most elements of the building fabric, including external joinery; or where there has been a fire or other disaster which has affected part of the building;
• fair means a building or structure which is structurally sound, but in need of minor repair or showing signs of a lack of general maintenance;
• good means structurally sound, weathertight and with no significant repairs needed.

The condition of buildings and structures on the Register is usually graded as ‘very bad’ or ‘poor’. However occasionally buildings or structures which are of a ‘fair’ or ‘good’ condition may be added to the Register if they are vulnerable to becoming at risk because they are empty, underused or face redundancy without a new use to secure their future.

Assessing vulnerability in the case of buildings or structures in fair condition necessarily involves judgement and discretion. A few buildings on the Register are in good condition, having been repaired or mothballed, but a new use or owner is still to be secured.

Occupancy (or use) is noted as:

• vacant (or not in use)
• partially occupied (part in use)
• occupied (in use), and
• occasionally, unknown.

(For structural scheduled monuments, occupancy/use is not usually applicable.)

The table below shows how condition and occupancy interact to generate the degree of risk for buildings that are in use or capable of beneficial use:

Buildings, structures and structural scheduled monuments capable of beneficial use are assessed as at risk if they are in:

• very bad condition
• poor condition and vacant or only partially occupied.

and are assessed as vulnerable if they are in:

• poor condition and occupied
• fair condition and vacant or partially occupied or about to be vacated as a result of functional redundancy, for example a hospital in the period of rundown to closure, and
• occasionally, in good condition and vacant.

Buildings, structures and structural scheduled monuments which cannot be occupied and are incapable of beneficial use are assessed by condition only.

They are assessed as at risk if they are in:

• very bad or poor condition;

and are assessed as vulnerable if they are in:

• fair condition but lacking management arrangements to ensure their maintenance.

Buildings and structures remain on the Register whilst solutions are being implemented, as a reminder of the need for monitoring and to ensure that repair and re-use are seen through to completion.

Buildings and structures are removed from the Register when fully repaired/consolidated, their future secured, and where appropriate, occupied.

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2. Places of worship risk assessment methodology

Places of worship included on the Register are buildings that are listed Grade I, II* or II and used as a public place of worship at least 6 times a year. If a place of worship has been permanently closed or is used for another purpose, it will be assessed using the buildings and structures risk assessment method. Outside Greater London, if a Grade II place of worship is no longer in use as a place of worship it will no longer be eligible for inclusion in the Register.

The definition of ‘place of worship’ includes buildings used for public worship by any faith or denomination. In April 2024 the total number of listed places of worship in England was approximately 14,800.

The method used to assess whether a place of worship is at risk is essentially the same as that used to assess other historic buildings and structures (as outlined above), with one important difference: the criterion as to whether a building is occupied is not used as by their nature, places of worship are in use, although some may be used more frequently than others.

Information on the condition of listed places of worship comes from a variety of sources. Historic England has carried out or commissioned a number of surveys of listed places of worship to assess their condition. Within the Church of England every church building must be inspected every 5 years by an architect or chartered building surveyor approved by the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC). This is known as the quinquennial inspection system and the resulting quinquennial reports are a very valuable source of information on the state of repair of churches. Other denominations have similar processes for carrying out regular inspections of condition.

In some areas there is a Places of Worship Support Officer (often part-funded by Historic England, the Church of England Buildings for Mission funding) or individual diocese, who will identify places of worship potentially at risk and support congregations in taking remedial action. Local authorities, amenity groups, community organisations and individuals may also highlight places of worship that are potentially at risk.

Whatever the source by which a place of worship is identified for potential inclusion on the Register, the decision of whether or not to add or remove it from the Register will be taken by Historic England staff after a visit from one of our conservation architects, surveyors or inspectors.

Places of worship will be assessed as at risk and added to the Register if their condition is assessed to be very bad or poor. Places of worship in fair condition overall are assessed as vulnerable, and those in good condition are assessed as not at risk, where:

• very bad means there are serious problems which require urgent attention,
• poor means there are widespread problems; lack of basic maintenance,
• fair means there are minor problems and general wear and tear,
• good means there are no obvious problems.

 
The focus when assessing the condition of a place of worship is mainly on critical weather-proofing areas, for example roof coverings, drainage systems and high-level stonework. We look in particular for issues with:

• high-level stonework: significant areas of badly-eroded masonry at high level, particularly on towers and spires, and fallen bits of stone or brick around the perimeter of the building;
• gutters and downpipes: plant growth in gutters and hopper heads; downpipes that are disconnected or detached; water discharging into the walls; blocked drains with plant growth in them;
• the interior: evidence of leaking/water ingress such as staining or bubbling paintwork, rot outbreaks; damage to interior fixtures and fittings;
• roofs: slipped or missing slates or tiles; slate or tile debris around the perimeter of the building; cracked or missing leadwork; general failure of flashings;
• structural stability: significant cracks, bulges or other structural defects in walls, where these appear likely to threaten the stability of the whole or a large part of the structure of the building;
• other areas: for example, general problems with window glass and stonework; signs of vandalism such as broken windows, graffiti and refuse in the churchyard; paintwork not renewed; widespread failure of external render.

Churches are often complex structures and many are amongst the oldest surviving buildings in the country. They are constructed of a wide range of materials, often local, which may be difficult or expensive to obtain today. They have features such as towers and spires which can be technically difficult and expensive to repair. They sometimes have delicate and vulnerable interior features, such as wall paintings. Because they are only periodically occupied, churches are especially vulnerable to heritage crime, for example lead theft from roofs.

It is often the case that only part of a church building, for example the tower or one of the aisles, is in very bad or poor condition, and it then becomes a matter of professional judgement whether this puts the whole building at risk. Usually if a major or a very significant element of a church is considered to be at risk then the judgement is made that the whole building is at risk and it is included in the Register.

The majority of listed places of worship have now been assessed. The baseline for calculating the listed places of worship on the Register changed in 2016 from only those which had been assessed to all listed places of worship.

Places of worship risk assessment entries are removed from the Register once the building has been repaired. 

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3. Archaeology risk assessment methodology

The archaeology risk assessment method is used to assess the risk to scheduled monuments that are either preserved below ground (buried archaeological sites) and/or survive in part as earthworks (for example, a burial mound, the ramparts of prehistoric hillfort, or a medieval moat).

Where the scheduled monument includes a substantial above ground structural element, this part of the monument will be assessed using the buildings and structures methodology.

Some scheduled monuments contain all 3 elements: buried archaeology, earthworks and above ground structures and are therefore assessed under both methodologies (for example, the ruins of some medieval abbeys) and therefore have 2 (or more) entries on the Register.

Many of the factors that can put buried archaeological remains or earthworks at risk are different from those that will put a building or standing structure at risk, and because the remains can be buried or only survive as relatively subtle earthworks, the chances of accidental damage are much higher. Archaeological remains are delicate and can be damaged by both physical actions (for example, ploughing) and by changes to the soil conditions (for example, organic remains such as wooden artefacts may only survive because they are waterlogged; if the water table is lowered and the soil dries out, such remains will begin to decay.)

In considering the risk to archaeological remains, the assessment must take account of what is significant about the remains and what factors may threaten that significance. For example, if much of the significance of the remains lies in the fact that they are preserved by waterlogging, factors that may cause the soil to dry out present a threat, as do factors that cause the water to become more oxygenated, as oxygenation also promotes decay.

Between 2005 and 2008, England’s scheduled monuments were systematically surveyed to assess their condition and vulnerability. The baseline for archaeology records is the 2009 Register.

Throughout the year, Historic England staff members assess entries on the Register to ascertain if they are still at risk. Archaeology assessment entries are removed from the Register once sufficient progress has been made to address identified issues, and a significant reduction in the level of risk to the site has been demonstrated.

Where it is known that there has been a change in the overall condition, trend or vulnerability of scheduled monuments, they are assessed and visited. Such sites are identified through Historic England monitoring and casework, or by partners such as Natural England. If the site meets the risk assessment criteria for inclusion on the Register, they will be added.
 
When assessing the risks to archaeological scheduled monuments, the following vulnerabilities will be considered:

Management vulnerabilities arise from how the site of the scheduled monument is managed and how the land is used, for example:

• arable ploughing
• arable clipping
• bracken (its rooting systems can cause extensive damage)
• forestry (root damage)
• gardening
• plant growth
• stock erosion
• tree / scrub growth (root damage)
• woodland management

Natural vulnerabilities and human actions which may put a monument at risk include:

• animal burrowing
• coastal erosion
• collapse
• deterioration in need of management
• development (permitted development, development requiring planning permission, development by public utilities and/or road construction)
• dewatering / drainage
• digging
• dumping (it is illegal to fly-tip on a scheduled monument)
• flooding
• levelling
• mineral extraction and related subsidence
• natural erosion and erosion caused by visitors
• subsidence
• unlicensed metal detecting
• vandalism, and
• vehicle damage.

The risk assessment will also take into account whether a formal management plan for the monument is in place and, if so, whether the plan is being implemented.

Where no formal management plan exists, an assessment will nevertheless be made of whether the management regime is benign or detrimental.

The final assessment will record whether the scheduled monument is at risk, vulnerable or low / not at risk. A site’s condition is expressed in terms of the scale and severity of the adverse effects on it, ranging from those with ‘extensive significant problems’ to others that have only ‘minor localised problems’.

The trend will also be recorded: ‘improving’, ‘stable’, ‘declining’ or ‘unknown’.
 
A risk assessment decision tree for scheduled monuments helps the assessor consider all the various relevant risks in the assessment process, but the final decision lies with the professional judgement of a member of Historic England staff.

Monuments are considered to be at low risk unless a higher risk is identified through considering the various risks, listed below, to arrive at a risk score.

The final decision lies with the professional judgement of a member of Historic England staff who will also take into consideration the current management of the monument and its trajectory.

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4. Registered parks and gardens risk assessment methodology

The Historic England 'Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England', established in 1983, currently identifies just over 1,700 sites assessed to be of particular significance.

The register of parks and gardens contains a variety of site types: rural parks and gardens, public parks, cemeteries, institutional (such as hospitals and asylums). The emphasis is on 'designed' landscapes, rather than purely on planting or botanical importance, although these may be an important part of a registered park or garden’s design.

We recognise that development is often vital to the long-term sustainability of a park or garden. But insensitive and cumulative change can unintentionally undermine the very essence of the historic design. As well as measuring the impact of change within registered sites, we also try to identify external threats to their special qualities and setting.

Registered parks and gardens vary enormously in size but nearly all involve many different features, and sometimes several owners. Often neglect is localised and easily dealt with; elsewhere the neglect may be much more serious and lead to irreversible damage.

By 2009 all registered parks and gardens in England had been assessed to categorise whether they were at risk. This was based on a mixture of assessment against a set of indicators and professional judgement.

Initially all sites were assessed through a desktop appraisal, this included available data on the condition and vulnerability of each site along with information about its management. A pilot study, including site surveys, was used to identify the indicators for measuring condition and vulnerability. The 2 key indicators are pressures from development (including impact on views and vistas) and detrimental neglect (for example, state of historic fabric).

On the basis of this baseline assessment, the condition of registered parks and gardens was provisionally recorded as being either:

• optimal / generally satisfactory
• generally satisfactory but with minor localised problems
• generally satisfactory but with significant localised problems
• generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems
• extensive significant problems, or
• unknown.

Historic England regional staff then moderated the results to ensure robustness and accuracy of the data. Parks and gardens assessed as unsatisfactory or with significant problems were included on the Register.

Since the baseline assessment, sites on the Register are assessed annually to see if they are still at risk, and new entries, identified by professional staff as being at risk, are added. In assessing the condition of registered parks and gardens, the following factors are considered:

• whether the integrity of the park or garden is damaged by development, both inside or outside the registered area, including the effect of this on key views and vistas
• whether its integrity is damaged by neglect
• whether there are buildings or structures at risk within the park and garden.

Significant component features are also considered. These include avenues, cultivated or display gardens, design elements (such as earthworks), designed water features, drives and paths, garden buildings and structures, other structures, grass cover, natural water features, shrubs and hedges, clumps and groups of trees, terraces and steps, views and vistas, woodland and shelter belts.

In terms of vulnerability, sites are all placed into 1 of 3 vulnerability categories:

• low – where the historic park and garden is managed as designed or management is compatible with the historic interest
• medium – where the management of a site is considered overall to be benign to the historic interest but there are some problems
• high – where there is uncertainty about the future conservation of the historic park and garden.

In assessing vulnerability, the following factors are considered:

• whether there is a Conservation Management Plan
• whether there is fragmented ownership (if this is causing management difficulties)
• whether major detrimental development is planned
• whether the use of the site is compatible with its historic significance

The park or garden’s trend is taken into account, that is to say whether it is:

• improving
• stable, or
• declining.

Parks and gardens risk assessment entries are removed from the Heritage at Risk Register once plans are put in place to address issues and positive progress is being made.

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5. Registered battlefields risk assessment methodology

Each year, Historic England staff assess registered battlefields to identify if any should be added to the Register and to update existing entries, including removing from the Register those that are no longer at risk.

Each battlefield is assessed against 4 key criteria:

• Landscape readability: is it possible to understand the context of the battle?
• Landscape features: are hedgerows, walls and trees which had a significant impact on the battle still in place?
• Archaeological integrity: is the archaeology of the battle being disturbed?
• Ambience: are activities such as development having a negative impact on the setting of the site?

Current condition, future vulnerability and trend are all taken into account.

These factors are considered to judge whether they are having a negative impact on condition:

• intensive agriculture
• tree planting
• deteriorating boundaries
• metal detecting
• loss of earthworks
• golf courses impacting on site.

These factors are considered to judge whether they are having a negative impact on vulnerability:

• development pressure
• hydrological works
• intensification of agriculture
• metal detecting
• roads and traffic.

The battlefield’s trend is taken into account, that is to say whether it is:

• improving
• stable
• declining.

Based on an assessment against these categories, sites deemed to be at risk of loss of historic significance are included on the Register.

Battlefield assessment entries are removed from the Heritage at Risk Register either when actual damaging activities are reversed or managed, or when threats recede due to effective management planning.

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6. Protected wreck sites risk assessment methodology

Every year, trained professional Historic England staff assess all protected wreck sites to identify whether any additional sites have become at risk and should be added to the Register and to update existing entries, including removing from the Register those that are no longer at risk.

Licensees also provide condition information on protected wreck sites to Historic England.

A protected wreck site will be considered to be at risk if there is a significant likelihood of loss or further loss of historical, archaeological or artistic significance from it within the foreseeable future.

Assessment at vulnerable indicates that there is a reasonable likelihood of loss of historical, archaeological or artistic significance in the future if no change in the management regime takes place.

Low / not at risk indicates that the site is being managed in a way that is sympathetic to its historical, archaeological or artistic significance.

Historic England recognises that natural processes, such as erosion, cannot always be prevented. Protected wreck sites that are subject to such forces will not be considered at risk if they are subject to a planned programme of managed change, recording and investigation.

Three broad factors are considered when assessing the risk to wreck sites:

• Condition: the current condition of the wreck, whether in optimal condition, generally satisfactory, generally unsatisfactory or having extensive problems;
• Vulnerability: an assessment of the natural and anthropogenic influences on the site to assess its overall vulnerability as high, medium or low, and;
• Trend: an assessment of the management regime and whether the monument condition is improving, remaining stable or experiencing unmanaged or inappropriate decline.

The following questions are used in a decision tree as an aid to professional judgement and to help to ensure uniformity of decision making amongst assessors. 

When considering the questions above, assessors are instructed to investigate any management plan in place and assess its adequacy and implementation and whether it is leading to a stable or declining wreck site.

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7. Conservation areas risk assessment methodology

The procedure for assessing conservation areas changed in 2018. Between 2009 and 2017 every local planning authority was invited annually to complete an online survey on the state of each of their conservation areas. An assessment of current condition, threats and trends was then used to assess risk, with those that were expected to deteriorate in the next 3 years, or in very bad or poor condition and not expected to change significantly in the next 3 years, defined as at risk and included on the Register. The online survey was made up of 35 questions about background, condition, vulnerability and trend. Some of these questions had weighted scores which determined an overall assessment of condition, vulnerability and trend, which then led to a final overall risk assessment.

From 2018, Historic England has asked local planning authorities to provide updates on their conservation areas, bringing the risk assessment of conservation areas in line with other types of heritage asset, whose risk status is not determined by an automated weighted scoring system but involves professional judgement on a case-by-case basis.

For conservation areas proposed for addition to, or removal from the Register, local authority historic environment staff fill in a questionnaire including questions on the background of the area, its overall condition, vulnerability and trend. The 'Conservation Areas Risk Assessment Flow Chart' is then used to determine the overall risk assessment for the area.

Conservation area entries are removed from the Register once issues have been identified, plans put in place to address them, and positive progress is being made.

Overview of the sections on the conservation area survey questionnaire

Conservation area removals from the Register

When a conservation area has improved and is ready to come off the Heritage at Risk Register, local authorities are asked to fill out a questionnaire to provide an updated assessment of condition, vulnerability and trend, and to state the main reason why the conservation area is no longer ‘at risk’.

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