Locally important buildings are often referred to as 'non-designated heritage assets'.

These are buildings, monuments, sites, places, areas or landscapes identified as having a degree of heritage significance meriting consideration in planning decisions but which do not meet the criteria for being designated a listed building or being on the register of historic parks and gardens. They usually have local importance as heritage assets rather than being considered important nationally.

A substantial majority of buildings have little or no heritage significance and thus do not constitute heritage assets. Only a minority have enough heritage significance to merit identification as non-designated heritage assets.

Non-designated heritage assets can be identified through plan making, such as in local plans or neighbourhood plans as local lists, or through the decision making process.

Any identification of a non-designated heritage needs to be based on sound reasoning clearly setting out the heritage values which are attached to the asset and the reasons for identification.”