Linked intrinsically to Historic Interest, Social and Communal Interest is any special meaning that is derived from the collective experience of a heritage asset. This can relate to local and cultural identity, social interaction or collective memories of a place and the people or events associated with it.

Guidance and Support for Members of the Public

The following points should be considered when assessing a site for Social / Communal Interest.

• Does the asset evoke strong feelings in the collective memory?
• Can any communal feeling be defined? Does it relate to the site and its design/ composition, or does it related to an association with a person, event etc?
• Is the Social / Communal Interest recent, or has there been communal interest throughout the sites history?
• Does the asset contribute to the character of the area, or to local identity?