The government has announced proposals to reform the 120-year old laws governing historic buildings and other heritage sites.

Forum Response: English Heritage

Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, said: "We are aware that the consultation paper poses many questions - not least, and absolutely centrally, about how we obtain and deploy conservation resources at national, regional and local level - and these are questions that will have to be answered if we are to make these proposals happen.

"But we see this as a once-in-a generation opportunity to build on our experience to change the system for the better.

"So we shall eagerly engage in the ensuing debate over the next few months, and hope that we can contribute to some of the answers for the writing of the white paper early next year."

Forum Response: National Trust

Tony Burton, director of policy and strategy at the National Trust, said: "The review needs to strengthen protection for the historic environment and provide the support and incentive to look after it for future generations.

"It should recognise the central role the historic environment plays in defining our sense of identity and culture, and the economic benefits that it provides.

"It is essential that this review knocks on the head once and for all the misconception s that protecting our heritage is a barrier to progress."

Forum Response: British Property Federation

Christopher A. Morley, director of planning and construction at the British Property Federation, told ePolitix.com: "The British Property Federation will be consulting its members on the government's review of the designation system over the coming weeks, but our immediate reaction is that this is a good set of proposals from the DCMS and English Heritage.

"The consultation document is based on the principle that we all share that the continued conservation of the historic environment is important and therefore warrants greater clarity, certainty and consistency of approach than provided by the current system.

"We note that the government has picked up on the suggestion to pull the various designation system strands into one, whilst addressing anomalies that individually exist and inconsistencies between them."

Forum Response: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

Oliver Foster, policy officer at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, told ePolitix.com: "RICS recognises the consultation paper as the best opportunity in decades to shape the future of heritage protection and to bring some order to the piecemeal systems that exist at present.

"We are the biggest property profession body in the UK, with members covering a wide range of specialisms, from building conservation to construction, and we look forward to working directly with the government throughout this process.

"We welcome the proposed 10 year contracts for owners of listed buildings as an empowering measure. The overall aim of the paper to better inform and bring benefits to all who use the system is welcome, but we hope the government does not replace old and fragmented laws with additional layers of bureaucracy that confuse. Our over-arching priority is to safeguard our heritage."