ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the changing focus in British policy and international conventions regarding heritage conservation, noting a shift towards recognising the importance of people, communities, and cultural activities. The analysis of various heritage documents reveals two key thematic shifts: a broader focus on people and communities alongside buildings and monuments, and a reconceptualization of change as positive and necessary for the long-term significance of built heritage. The chapter highlights a linear distribution of documents over time in relation to these two thematic shifts, with international documents exploring these concepts earlier than British national documents. Existing British guidance, such as Historic England’s concept of ‘communal value,' is highlighted as potentially useful to support this shift. The chapter concludes by noting that while the UK is moving towards an immaterial focus and acceptance of change, there is a need for new documentation that explicitly addresses intangible heritage from a Western perspective.
