EH’s 2005-10 Strategy document makes specific mention of the Heritage Gateway project.

English Heritage is delighted to be a partner in the development of the Heritage Gateway. For too long, accessing the information resource essential to manage and enjoy the historic environment has been cumbersome, involving a wide range of searches. As it develops its services, the Heritage Gateway will help deliver the integrated local and national record as the essential information base underpinning the Heritage Protection Review. By means of targeted promotion, the site will help English Heritage and HERs to reach new professional and general audiences.

Phase 1 of the project has created an information resource for the historic environment. While this site demonstrates some of the valuable facilities which are planned for the completed site, it is only a first phase. An innovative cross-searching mechanism due to be launched in April 2007 will add value by allowing users to query seamlessly across the English Heritage and NMR’s datasets, HERs and other key online resources within the sector. With further developments planned beyond that, the Heritage Gateway is set to become an essential and powerful tool for professional and educational use and the general public.

English Heritage is taking the Heritage Gateway forward in partnership with ALGAO and IHBC. Together these three organisations are well positioned to represent the statutory, HER and conservation perspectives on the historic environment, but to ensure that this new resource serves the widest possible audience an Advisory Committee has been set up with invitees drawn from many of the other key organisations and representative bodies. We will be pleased to receive feedback and suggestions.

Nigel Clubb

Director, National Monuments Record, English Heritage

2 May 2006