ABSTRACT
Conservation in Britain is only possible at all because of the joint action of public, private and voluntary sector agencies. If that sounds like a cliché, it is nonetheless important for that. In broad terms, central Government provides the framework for conservation-the lists of historic buildings, the schedules of ancient monuments and the controls that regulate them and conservation areas-while English Heritage and the voluntary groups provide the expertise and in many cases the actual physical labour that keeps the heritage together. The local authorities bring the work of central Government and the voluntary groups together, decide the majority of consent cases and work to protect and enhance the heritage of their local communities.
