More good news for Prehistory!

English Heritage is joining with others to make a joint legal challenge to planning permission for a wind farm that would be built within 1 mile of Lyveden New Bield, a Grade I listed building and registered park and garden – described even by the Inspector as having “cultural value of national if not international significance”

So why is that good news for prehistory? Because Chief Executive Simon Thurley said:

“Our challenge to his decision is not simply about the balance of professional judgement between heritage and renewable energy.  The Inspector did not adequately take into account the contribution that Lyveden New Bield’s historic and rural surroundings make to its immense significance. In our view, therefore, he failed to have ‘special regard’ for the desirability of preserving the special interest of the listed building and its setting which the law requires of him as decision-maker in this case.”

Anything that reinforces the notion that “setting” is a vital part of cultural value and worth preserving has got to be good news for those with a particular interest in prehistoric monuments!