Published

The Historic Environment (Wales) Bill receives Royal Assent.

After a ten-month passage through Senedd Cymru, the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill has become an Act after receiving Royal Assent from His Majesty, King Charles III, and being impressed with the Welsh Seal by the First Minister. The legislation — the Welsh Government’s first exercise in consolidation in an ambitious programme to improve the accessibility of Welsh law — is now the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023.

For the first time, the new Act brings the principal legislation for the historic environment together in one place, states it explicitly for Wales without confusing references to other jurisdictions and provides the law and its supporting documentation in fully bilingual form. Furthermore, the law has been reorganised and restated in clear, everyday language so that it will be easier to use and understand. The Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 will transform the accessibility of the law for owners and occupiers of scheduled monuments and listed buildings, third-sector groups, public authorities and others.

Although the legislation is now an Act of Senedd Cymru, it will not be brought into force until the latter part of 2024. In the months ahead, secondary legislation to support the Act will be made. Cadw, other Welsh Government divisions, local authorities and other public bodies will also need to revise and update guidance and application forms to reflect the passage of the Act. Finally, a programme of engagement will raise awareness of the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 amongst historic environment stakeholders, promote its benefits and publicise the date in 2024 when it will come into force.

Further information can be found on the pages dedicated to the Act on the Cadw website.