We must do more to protect our finest urban views, says ex-minister John Penrose Some councils try, he says, by creating conservation areas - but "rules to make sure you can see a local landmark from the other side of town, or protect a row of Victorian house facades from being mangled" are often not enough. He argues that the current mix of protections offer no certainty for developers - and can often stop redevelopment in its tracks in some towns and cities. Mr Penrose, who was heritage and architecture minister between May 2010 and September 2012, says: "At the moment, when we protect single buildings by Listing them, we know what we're looking for. English Heritage publish the Principles Of Selection which lay out what makes a building special, and sets the quality bar at the right height so we don't protect tat. But there's no fully-developed equivalent for selecting the best views of our city and townscapes. And, as a result, no-one really knows what's worth keeping and what's not. So why don't we just give English Heritage a New Year Resolution to get on with it? He suggests that any new protections should be drawn up with Unesco, which has already designated He adds: "By protecting the best, most beautiful bits - your favourite winter walks, and mine - from being casually destroyed today, we will make them better places to live and work tomorrow as well." An English Heritage spokesman said: "Views play an important part in shaping our appreciation and understanding of England's historic environment, whether in towns and cities or in the countryside. Historically important views are among the many sensitive issues that local planning authorities have to consider, and we have guidance that helps clarify this aspect of the planning process.