Sites containing groups of heritage assets and/or other heritage assets should be considered as a single entity. They may need to be marketed as a single development package, in order to avoid the isolation of historic elements of the site and consequent damage to their setting and amenity value. This is particularly important if cross-subsidy within a development scheme is necessary in order to secure the future of the heritage assets. In this case, it is vital to secure such cross-subsidy by legally binding and enforceable means such as a Section 106 Agreement in England and Wales, a Section 75 Agreement in Scotland or an Article 40 Planning Agreement in Northern Ireland.

Disposal methods should prevent the separation of commercially attractive elements from associated (usually historic) liabilities, a situation which tends to generate pressure for further “enabling development”.  This is defined as development that would not normally be permitted under planning policy but is granted consent for the specific purpose of creating value to enable the rescue and repair of a listed building.