Heritage gateway

English Heritage is working in collaboration with ALGAO (the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers) and IHBC (the Institute of Historic Building Conservation) in a five-year project to build a 'heritage gateway' to England's local and national historic environment records. A key objective is to develop the flexibility to provide integrated access to local and national heritage information resources as part of the programme of reforms proposed by the government's 'Heritage Protection for the 21st Century' initiative.

A prototype website was first made available in April 2006 after a year of planning and development. This provided access to a boundary map of England's historic environment records, with contact information and news articles as well as local education and outreach project information.

A mechanism to cross-search live local and national datasets has been developed for the website from May 2007. More datasets are being linked to this search as the project progresses.

The website is currently aimed at historic environment professionals and will be redeveloped for launch to the general public from spring 2008.