British-Nigerian historian David Olusoga welcomed the expansion, saying: “English history has been shaped by women as well as men, by the poor as well as the wealthy, and by people across England and not just those who lived in London.
“These welcome changes will liberate Historic England and English Heritage to celebrate the stories of England’s hidden heroes with their beloved blue plaques.”
Historic England’s head of participation programmes, Ellie Djerir, insisted every community in Britain had people who “deserved to be remembered”, but the buildings they were connected to were no longer standing.
“By widening the criteria of the National Blue Plaque Scheme, we can now celebrate more of the people who have shaped our history, wherever they lived and worked,” she said.
Applications for both the London and nationwide schemes will run until January 13, with new plaques based from the nominations being unveiled next year.