New listings - another bottleneck

[Gareth Hughes]

However much fun a unified list may be, the following message from English Heretics is a bit annoying if anyone's wanting to get their house listed (especially given that the most recent listing application I made, under the supposedly "streamlined" new system, took more than 9 months to be sorted.)

Dear All

In early 2011 English Heritage will be launching the Heritage List for England, a fully searchable database of all nationally designated assets, from buildings to battlefields. This will be the first time that such information has been made available online and it will be accessible via the English Heritage websitehttp://www.english-heritage.org.uk/ and Heritage Gatewayhttp://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/.

In order to ensure that the Heritage List will be up and running in early 2011, a rigorous testing programme is underway and we are undertaking a huge project to ensure that as much legacy data as possible from the old, separate databases (containing listing, scheduling, parks and gardens, battlefields and wrecks records) can be transferred to the new, Heritage List.

Much of our current resources will be taken up during the changeover period. From 1st January until 31st March 2011 we will only be giving priority to urgent cases, that is, those cases that are under real threat of demolition or are subject to a live planning application, or other consent application, the implementation of which may affect the national significance of the asset.

If your application is not urgent, you may wish to defer submission until April 2011. All applications to designate an asset should be made via the new online application form http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/protection/process/online-application-form/ on the English Heritage website.

Kind Regards

Heritage Protection Coordinators - East

 

[Penners]

Hmmm - that doesn't bode well for period properties that find themselves in urgent need of protection from developers. Is there any way that an urgent "freezing" order can be placed on a building, in such a way that the wrecking ball is stayed while an application for listing is sitting in EH's "In" tray?

I don't have any particular building in mind - just interested to know how much legal protection is available (in theory ).

 

[robgil]

There is afaik Penners , its a conservation order isnt it?

I guess if you want your house listed sharpish apply to have it demolished.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Building Preservation Notice, but they hardly ever get used as we (the council) would be liable to pay compensation if it wasn't confirmed by listing. Luckily everything I've put in, so far, has been.

 

[Penners]

Luckily everything I've put in, so far, has been.

I'm sure that modesty forbids you from clarifying whether it was luck or good professional judgement.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Meanwhile (not something I put in for listing, or really care desperately about, but all you grey-haired baby-boomers will appreciate):

http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/7682.aspx

The world-famous zebra crossing near the Abbey Road Studios in London has been listed Grade II by John Penrose, Minister for Tourism and Heritage

Odd that, as EH have recently turned down various cobbled streets and pavements for listing, on the grounds that they aren't structures...

 

[Penners]

Yes, I read that this morning. Full marks to the Minister for Tourism and Heritage (who has a most aristocratic name).

Do I gain credibility points if I reveal that I myself have recorded in Abbey Road studios?

 

[Moo]

Full marks to the Minister for Tourism and Heritage (who has a most aristocratic name).

Another Mr Penrose. Any relation?

Do I gain credibility points if I reveal that I myself have recorded in Abbey Road studios?

You're in good company there, Penners - our son has often recorded there, too.

 

[Penners]

Another Mr Penrose. Any relation?

I have yet to meet anyone of that name with whom I don't eventually discover a family connection. But this particular Mr P has not so far had the dubious honour of making my acquaintance.