The Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 (“the 2023 Act”) consolidates the principal legislation for the conservation of the historic environment in Wales. The 2023 Act forms part of a code of law relating to the historic environment of Wales.

The main Acts brought together in that consolidation are the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 (c. 49), the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (c. 46), the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (c. 9) (“the 1990 Act”) and the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 4).

Schedule 13 to the 2023 Act made minor and consequential changes to primary legislation. Regulation 3 inserts in Schedule 13 a consequential change to the Harbours Act 1964.

Regulation 4 omits provision which is not required.

Schedule 13 to the 2023 Act also made changes to the 1990 Act. The 1990 Act has since been further amended by the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023. Regulations 5 to 21 make further amendments to Schedule 13 to the 2023 Act in the light of those further amendments made by the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023. The amendments include repeals.

Schedule 14 to the 2023 Act makes transitional and saving provision. Regulation 22 makes a further saving.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations.