Blue plaque nominations open until 13 January as rules change to allow altered and rebuilt sites
The national scheme run by Historic England and the London scheme run by English Heritage will now consider people linked to buildings that have since been substantially altered or replaced.
Public nominations for an official blue plaque in England are open until 13 January 2027, and for the first time the person or group being nominated no longer needs a link to a building that is still standing in recognisable form.
Until now, both the National Blue Plaque Scheme, which Historic England runs for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the London scheme run by English Heritage required the building to survive and not be altered beyond recognition. Under the new criteria, announced on Thursday 12 November, a plaque can go on a site that has been substantially altered or replaced since the person or group was connected to it. That includes homes, shops, workplaces, community buildings and streets.
The department's examples include people connected to lost music and performance venues, former residents of demolished homes, and workers and innovators at factories and workshops that have since gone.
Who can be nominated
To qualify, the person or group must have made a significant contribution to human welfare or happiness, or an exceptional contribution to their field. A person must have died at least 20 years ago. A group must have been formed at least 20 years ago and no longer be active. The site must have a strong connection to them.
Nominations for the national scheme go to Historic England, and those for the London scheme to English Heritage. Plaques from this round are due to be unveiled in 2027.
The scheme so far
The national scheme was launched in 2023 following a change in the law, bringing official blue plaques to places outside London. The first plaque went to Daphne Steele, the first Black matron in the NHS, at a former maternity home in Ilkley, West Yorkshire. Twelve have now been put up, from Plymouth to Liverpool. Others mark the Beatles guitarist George Harrison in Wavertree, the ceramic designer Clarice Cliff in Stoke-on-Trent and the Rev Wilbert Awdry, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, in Stroud.
Historic England has £100,000 this year to support the programme, including grants for community groups and grassroots organisations researching nominations in places and on subjects the scheme has so far underrepresented.
