LONDON, ENGLAND.-Minister for Culture David Lammy and ODPM Minister Baroness Andrews launched a public consultation today on revisions to the criteria used to assess a building's suitability for listing.

The Government considers that the current criteria are broad and unclear and that the practice used by English Heritage when assessing buildings for listing needs to be clarified.

David Lammy said: "Heritage protection and planning are undergoing a cultural change to bring about greater openness, fairness, flexibility and accountability.

"The launch of this consultation paper on revised listing criteria is an important step forward, and it is important to get them right. We welcome views and opinions on the criteria from organisations and individuals alike."

Baroness Andrews said: "Publication of these criteria will enable everyone, from developers and planners and local people, to better understand the reasons for listing particular buildings, thereby providing protection for these valuable community assets."

The revisions will not change the criteria themselves but will provide a benchmark both for English Heritage and DCMS for recommending or making listing decisions and more importantly for the public who submit applications for listing. The proposed revisions will not change the type of building that are listed or increase or reduce their overall number or change the level of protection afforded to historic buildings.

The public consultation is part of the Government's wider reform of the heritage protection systems, which started with the transfer of the administration of the listing system from the DCMS, to English Heritage in April this year. Over the next year, the Heritage Protection Review will also see the introduction of consultation with property owners and local authorities when an application for listing a building has been made. The consultation will run for twelve weeks, from Monday 25th July to 17th October.