The UK’s GI assets are owned by a diverse range of organisations, often with differing management objectives and subject to a range of policy contexts. Ownershop within a small area may include farmers, potential developers, a local authority (with land vested in different departments), a charitable trust and statutory bodies such as the Environment Agency. As such, the current planning, finance and management of  GI  tends to be complex and disjointed.  Consequently, the potential for maximising the potential of GI assets as an integrated resource is at best not realised, with each individual GI asset working well for its users but with limited scope for cooperation across sites and administrative boundaries, and at worst, lost through development.

The GI approach adopted in the West of England (Sub Region) will consolidate and increase the usefulness and accessibility of data relating to GI assets, for example that held by Environmental Record Centres, Unitary Authorities and the Forestry Commission, whilst reaching a wide audience via this website to provide easily accessible and clear policy and delivery mechanisms for sustainable development.