Designing an adequate legal framework for protection and valorisation of cultural heritage as a pilot for an integrated spatial planning law.

Designing an adequate legal framework for protection and valorisation of cultural heritage as a pilot for an integrated spatial planning law.

This research consists in a comparative analysis (the federated entities of Belgium, the Netherlands, England and France) of the legal framework for protection and valorization of cultural heritage. 

The Flemish cultural heritage legislation is fragmented. Within the heritage legislation there is a major, but artificial divide between movable and immovable cultural heritage, which creates a tangle of competent authorities. Furthermore, also the immovable heritage crumbles into different subsectors, thus often creating unnecessary differentiation between legal instruments (protection, management, compensation, valorization, financing, …) for monuments, landscapes, etc. Finally, the lack of coordination/integration between spatial planning, environment and cultural heritage leads to inconsistent policy-making. In spite of their close interrelationship, the sectoral authorities can often take decisions independently, thus giving rise to conflicting decisions in each other’s domains. Moreover procedures take too long and socio-economic factors are not always duly taken into account. This creates not only an unattractive investment climate for project development, but also affects heritage protection and the citizens quality of life. Moreover, through non-transparence the heritage policy loses public support. However, the international and supranational level is geared towards a high degree of transparent heritage protection and the integration of the heritage policy in spatial planning and environmental law. 

Accordingly,this research will address the above contrast by designing a legal framework that a) integrates these three domains of spatial planning both procedurally and materially and b) offers an adequate and sustainable protection for our cultural heritage. To achieve this goal, the first part of the research will amount to a synthesis of the demands of sustainability and integration in the heritage field. Accordingly, the minimum frameworks advanced in 1) international heritage conventions, 2) (inter)national fundamental rights texts, 3) (integration clauses of) EU law, 4) constitutional law regarding project development, integration and sustainability will be analysed. The second phase consists in the actual comparative analysis of the legal framework for cultural heritage to research and assess the possibilities of multilevel integrated heritage management. The quality of the various legal instruments (identification, research, registration, protection, maintenance, …) will be assessed by making use of the selected research criteria  (identified interests at stake such as a straightforward institutional and procedural framework, ample opportunities for research and identification of heritage values, ...). A pivotal role is reserved for those instruments that further procedural and material integration. The research will provide a thorough analysis of crucial administrative processes such as Environmental Impact Assessments, spatial plans, management plans, permitting and partnership agreements. The third and final phase amounts to an analysis de lege ferenda. Accordingly, the research will suggest a number of amendments to the Flemish legal framework for cultural heritage. These amendments will play on several levels. They will concern the issue of heritage integration (movables - immovables and integration within the latter). The suggested amendments will also be geared towards the establishment of a Flemish integrated spatial planning law (bringing together heritage and the other immovable contextual factors).