The objective of this paper is to put forward a holistic, less subjective, method to value built heritage. Based on 37 seminal publications issued from 1903 to date, 24 value typologies were identified, classified and incorporated in a heritage value grid developed from the Nara Grid. This grid allows for a multi-layered valorization of aesthetic, socio-cultural, economic and informational values with respect to six heritage dimensions, namely, (i) design, (ii) materiality, (iii) function, (vi) location, (v) tradition and techniques, and (vi) spirit and memory. This formed the basis of a mathematical formula, the Heritage Value Calculation, to compute the heritage value of a given building. The resulting final value is useful in the scheduling of such sites.

Scheduling is a cultural heritage tool to provide statutory protection to heritage assets. This article is an analysis of the process of securing protection of immovable cultural heritage buildings and sites in the Maltese Islands. Through qualitative interviews with key stakeholders – namely, heritage professionals – this study exposes shortcomings and limitations of the existing local scheduling process. It proposes the public as a main stakeholder and lists several recommendations put forward by the participants for a more inclusive methodology of selecting and scheduling cultural heritage buildings and sites. It concludes by proposing the adoption of modes of rendering the process and assessment of heritage assets less subjective, notably through the adoption of the prototype computation of heritage values based on a heritage value grid.