Regulatory Management of the Setting of Historic Assets: Lower Leighton Mega-dairy - A Case Study from Wales

The effective public service delivery of the regulatory management of the built historic environment in the U.K. is primarily based on the planning system. The setting of heritage assets is just one specific aspect of consideration for assessing the impact of proposed development but it is relevant to all assets, whether World Heritage Sites, buildings, monuments or landscapes. All heritage assets have a setting. This area has, in the past, been given comparatively little consideration within the tools and guidance available to practising heritage professionals but new and forthcoming guidance and legislation in the U.K. may go some way to addressing this. There are, however, aspects of assessment and analysis which deserve further consideration, especially from a practitioner's viewpoint. This paper seeks to explore these aspects through examining a high-profile case study from Wales, chosen because of the author's personal involvement in the case, the wide range of assets involved, and the interesting outcomes. This study helps to identify where universally applicable lessons can be learnt and will perhaps further inform the future development of informative, relevant and practical regulatory management documents, policies and tools.