Change of use consent and Listed Buildings

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for their replies to my earlier thread.

I've been googling around for articles that may help my case, and I found the following statement

"It may be possible to argue for forms of re-use which have significant benefits for the special interest of the building and its setting, even if contrary to normal local plan policy. This is particularly so in the case of listed buildings and scheduled monuments."

(This is from http://www.spab.org.uk/publications_changeofuse.html)

Can anyone point me at any other documents to support this. "....even if contrary to normal local plan policy. This is particularly so in the case of listed buildings and scheduled monuments." Is the bit that particularly interests me.

Many thanks

Matthew

 

[Anonymous]

Well, it's a can of worms really - but the reason I asked about the age of your buildings was to point you in the direction of the appropriate amenity society, to support your case. In this case it is SPAB, and the Georgian Group. However, adopted local policies also carry weight, so don't discount them. Support from your local councillor would be good, but alone a local councillor cannot go against adopted policy.

Re-use of 'at risk' historic buildings is also of course the reason for SAVE's existence. There is now in existence a Buildings at Risk group with representatives from SAVE, EH IHBC etc, and SAVE is running its second conference on the subject in June for local authority officers.

If you give Ela Palmer at SAVE a ring she may be able to point you in the direction of a few more pieces of legislation and contacts She may may even know your CO. However, she's leaving SAVE at the end of the week so you will need to ring tomorrow probably (say I said to ring...)

0207 253 3500

The problem is not really the re-use - see PPG 15, it's probable that re-use as a dwelling, as long as sensitively done, is the best use of this building - it's the other stipulations re affordable housing which is the difficulty here.

It's getting the balance to shift towrds getting a listed building at risk back into use as a priority and away from the 'new build/affordable housing' aspect. The problem is the two are not in general mutually exclusive. Someone else may be prepared to take on the buildings and comply with both aspects.

Your local authority may also not be too impressed by reclaimed materials - another can of worms, so be warned!


http://www.savebritainsheritage.org

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the great information - I'll give her a call in the morning.

Thanks again,

Matthew

 

[Anonymous]

I've left a message in the original thread below for you - I've discussed this with Ela and she thinks as I do that this is possibly a wrong interpretation of new government guidance, although it's a bit tricky!

But more below.