Regional Development Agencies, regional assemblies and local strategic partnerships must be urged to take full account of the historic environment and the huge opportunities it offers for sustainable tourism, local economic development and the regeneration of urban and rural communities. More help for local authorities to protect and enhance the quality of the local environment, historic buildings, streetscapes, landmarks and parks Local authorities are in the frontline of managing change to the historic environment. They need stronger support and better resources from central government in order to discharge their responsibilities effectively. Measures that promote the preservation and managed re-use of historic buildings, monuments and landscapes need to be included among the Best Value indicators that will determine local authority priorities in coming years. Better incentives for repair and maintenance Empty and disused buildings bring a cycle of neglect and despair.
Poor maintenance brings high repair bills.
This powerful and unfair disincentive to maintain, refurbish and give new life to empty properties must be removed. A similar measure needs to be extended to the country's 370,000 listed buildings. Often these are key landmarks, buildings at the heart of their community or important public spaces. This irreplaceable component of the national heritage could be brought back into good repair and put to solid economic use through a relatively small increase in public expenditure. Putting the historic environment at the heart of education English Heritage urges the next Government to integrate historic environment teaching with related subjects such as citizenship, geography, environmental science, architecture and design in the National Curriculum.