English Heritage (EH) has announced a five-year plan to transform the image of conservation and protect England’s historic environment.

Simon Thurley, chief executive, aims to change the belief that there must be a stark choice between conservation and development. He said: “It is about making the past part of our future. This is why we exist.”

Under the title Constructive Conservation, Thurley has laid out the key elements needed to achieve this transformation, which centre on heritage protection, conservation principles and a properties development programme.

For the first time, the “At Risk” register will include all buildings, monuments and landscapes at all grades which are at risk.

A new codified set of conservation principles has been devised to take into account social and cultural shifts. EH will apply these to its own properties in a £30m investment programme beginning this autumn.

Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire, Chiswick House, London and Audely End House in Essex are due to be refurbished, with the aim of making them self-financing. Details: www.english-heritage.org.uk