Historic Environment Records Contract

Description

Compilation and retention of up to date historic environment records for Wales. Lot 1: The Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2016 requires the Welsh Ministers to compile and keep up to date a historic environment record (HER) for each local authority in Wales. The only comprehensive coverage of historic environments records in Wales are those maintained by Heneb: The Trust for Welsh Archaeology (formerly the four regional Welsh Archaeological Trusts). The most cost-effective means of discharging this duty on Welsh Ministers is to utilise the existing online facility maintained by Heneb to provide public access to the core information held in the regional HERs. This online access (known as Archwilio) has been adapted to meet the requirements of the legislation. The Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2016 will be superseded by the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023, which received Royal Assent in May 2023. The provisions of the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 will come into force in autumn 2024, after this contract has been implemented. The Act is consolidation legislation and does not change any existing or impose any new duties or powers for the purpose of this contract. As such, the legal provisions discharged by this contract will be transferred to the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 and will continue beyond the contract implementation date.