Amenity society

National amenity societies preserve historic art and architecture and operate at a national level. In England, the six principal societies, known formally as the National Amenity Societies, are statutory consultees on alterations to listed buildings, and by law must be notified of any work to a listed building which involves any element of demolition.[1] These societies are:

• The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
• The Ancient Monuments Society, since 2021 operating under the working name Historic Buildings & Places
• The Council for British Archaeology
• The Georgian Group, concerned with buildings and planned landscapes dating from between 1700 and 1840
• The Victorian Society, concerned with buildings built from 1837 to 1914 (also covering Edwardian architecture)
• The Twentieth Century Society, concerned with buildings dating from 1914 onwards

In addition to the above, the Garden History Society is a statutory consultee in relation to planning proposals likely to affect registered historic parks and gardens.[2]

Many civic societies in England and Wales comment non-statutorily on planning and historic building matters within their localities. Some are formally recognised by the local planning authority; for example, Westminster City Council maintains a list of recognised consultees which includes the Soho Society and other residents' associations.[3] Some also operate as preservation trusts; for example, Wisbech Society is recognised by Fenland District Council as a planning consultee, the society has also recently carried out the restoration of a C19th Grade II listed derelict Chapel with £300k from the Heritage Lottery Fund. [4]