Ms Charlotte Sheridan:

A protected structure should never be considered as an individual building in its own right. It needs to be taken within its overall context. That is where the architecture conservation area, ACA, definition is very useful. In terms of how that is implemented in the Bill, it would be useful if town centre heritage-led regeneration plans incorporated the ACA and the context within which the protected structure is considered. From our point of view, we would see the historic environment as being an enormous asset within any organisation or any local authority in terms of what it can deliver. It is a ready-made fantastic experience, a great place to live and a great place for people to enjoy. It can deliver very good quality of life. We saw the potential of these places, particularly during the pandemic. They started to be lived in again, and people started to use them as a focus and a point of interaction and engagement. In terms of this Bill, we need to be stronger in terms of the value, scope and potential of these heritage town centres. It is not just about the protected structure; it is the overall context within which it is placed. We need to be very clear. We should have a consistent approach within the local authorities. They are plans they should be creating for the various town or urban centres within those contexts.