CIfA-IEMA 2021 Principles of Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment
The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment jointly published the Principles of Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment in the UK in 2021. They are advisory, not binding, but represent the consensus methodology for cultural-heritage chapters in Environmental Statements and for standalone HIAs in the UK.
The five principles
- Significance-led. Assessment must start from a clear articulation of significance, including setting.
- Proportionate. Depth of analysis matched to the importance of the asset and the likely magnitude of effect.
- Integrated. Cultural heritage assessed alongside other EIA topics, not in isolation.
- Transparent. Methodology, sensitivity and magnitude criteria stated and applied consistently.
- Iterative. Assessment informs design from the outset, not retrospectively.
The sensitivity-and-magnitude matrix
The Principles set out the standard matrix for evaluating significance of effect: asset sensitivity (high / medium / low / negligible) crossed with magnitude of impact (high / medium / low / negligible) produces a significance of effect (major / moderate / minor / not significant). This is the spine of every UK EIA Heritage Chapter.
How consultants cite them
The methodology section of every cultural-heritage chapter should cite 'CIfA / IEMA (2021) Principles of Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment in the UK' and identify which specific aspects of the methodology have been adopted. The Principles are mandatory reading for any practitioner producing an EIA Heritage Chapter.