Overview
A local heritage asset is identified as having a degree of significant heritage interest. It can include a:
- building
- monument
- site
- place
- area
- landscape
They are taken into consideration when we make planning decisions because of their heritage interest. They are also referred to as a Non-Designated Heritage Asset (NDHA).
It does not include those heritage assets such as listed buildings included on the statutory list prepared by the Secretary of State.
The List of Local Heritage Assets
The List of Local Heritage Assets is a register of non-designated heritage assets including their location.
The register allows us and the community to jointly identify and record these assets.
It means the following are aware of their status and value:
- owners
- developers
- organisations
- infrastructure providers
Local Heritage Assets in Trafford
In January 2021, we were selected as a pilot area as part of the Greater Manchester Local Heritage List for the Local List Campaign funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG).
This draft List has been produced following a public consultation period in 2021 in which nominations for suitable assets were sought.
That list has been compiled by heritage professionals who are familiar with Trafford. The List is not an exhaustive record of all non-designated heritage assets.
Other properties or assets may be identified through the planning application process and added to the register in due course.
The implications of a List of Local Heritage Assets
The inclusion of an asset on a List of Local Heritage Assets is a ‘non-statutory’ designation. There are no additional planning controls and the inclusion of an asset on a List of Local Heritage Assets does not affect permitted development rights.
National and local policy (the Local Plan) help safeguard non-designated heritage assets.
Where planning permission for work is required, the special heritage interest (significance) of the non-designated heritage asset, including its setting, will be a ‘material consideration’ in determining the planning application.
If you have a planning application that would potentially affect a Local Heritage Asset, you need to supply a written Heritage Statement.
This should be proportional to the work proposed and the significance of the affected heritage asset. For further details see the Validation Checklist.
Consultation
We are consulting on the draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD 8) List of Local Heritage Assets (Local List).
This follows on from the consultation held from 20 October to 1 December 2025 on the content of the 16 draft Lists of Local Heritage Assets and Selection Criteria.
The content of the List of Local Heritage Assets and Selection Criteria was approved by our Executive on 16 March 2026.
Have your say on the Draft SPD 8:Local List of Heritage Assets consultation