Forthcoming changes to listed building consent

[masochists-r-us]

Apologies if this has already been discussed before, but just wondered what people's views are on the changes to heritage protection apparently due to become law early 2013. Will it really make the process easier whilst maintaining protection? Cynical maybe, but I'm concerned that it could cause more delays and almost certainly increased costs for the owners of listed buildings. I would have liked to see any changes to the law, encouraging people to take on and invest in listed buildings rather than shrink back in horror at the mere mention of Listed Building.
Views anyone?

 

[Keith Bowman]

Never heard of it so I looked it up. Seems to be a proposal (still) that bits of a listed building which are not the features causing it to be listed could be mucked about with at will. That seems to presume that listings actually define which bits are important, which they mostly don't in my (very limited!) experience. Sounds as though it hasn't been thought through properly but as that seems to be the norm with new legislation it probably means it will go ahead anyway!

 

[masochists-r-us]

I hadn't either, but consultation completed last July and according to English Heritage it should become law very soon.

 

[robgil]

I always thought a listed building had certain features that were held in a list by the authorities thus preventing people from changing things around? If not what is stopping people from making changes and claiming the building to have always been like that?

 

[Keith Bowman]

I always thought a listed building had certain features that were held in a list by the authorities thus preventing people from changing things around? If not what is stopping people from making changes and claiming the building to have always been like that?

That's the theory. Its the practice which is the problem! Some listings appear to have been done with the building just being given a quick once over from the nearest public road! Even when there was an internal inspection the resulting description can be pretty perfunctory. As I said, my experience is very limited: no doubt our resident experts could give a more considered opinion.

 

[LadyArowana]

I looked at the listing for ours a while ago ( GII, townhouse ) and it's just included as Nos X to Y with a few additional sentences. When we bought we were told that the roof on part of the rear elevation was special as it was Cotswold stone, but I found no mention of that in what I could access online, maybe there is more at the Council offices, but I wouldn't be surprised if not. Almost everything in central Bath is listed, so they probably didn't go into great detail everywhere.

 

[JoceAndChris]

It's just insane and I don't see how it could ever be put into practice. Either you make a detailed description, which would involve EH revisiting all listed properties, at government expense, and identifying what were the characteristics that could not be changed, or you make a list that runs along the lines of banning changes to original fireplaces, or joinery, but giving the go ahead for new fenestration or insulation measures ( to pick some things at random).

Nonsense as there's no black and white in period properties - in one house there might be a real charm in the old quarry tiles or bread ovens, in another those same features might be so dilapidated, or so poorly located that they could be sacrificed. Everything is judged carefully on a case by case basis by the team of COs.

I don't know what the update is on this and hope that Gareth or another of our COs might comment if it isn't too sensitive. It's a real clash of interests between conservationists and planners, that's for sure.

My house being recently listed has pages and pages of highly detailed description of every single little thing, and the CO when she visited was very keen that it was all preserved - even though nothing, in itself, is particularly unique or jaw dropping. I was very impressed with her attitude.

Preservation has always been down to respect, hard work and understanding of the owner really, and I see that increasing.

 

[MatthewC]

There was a good discussion about the quality (or otherwise) of listings at this thread last year: http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13437

 

[Penners]

Will it really make the process easier whilst maintaining protection?

Those two principles seem to me to be mutually incompatible. If the business of obtaining LBC is made easier, surely listed building protection will be adversely affected.