Members of the Institute of Historic Building and Conservation (IHBC) fear the Localism Bill will jeopardise protection of England’s listed buildings and conservation areas.
The bill, published last month, is designed to shift power from central government to local authorities and communities.
The IHBC fears that the provision of neighbourhood development orders could mean that listed building and conservation area procedures will be weakened. Developers could use the orders to get round the rules associated with listed building.
“The Bill includes precise specifications for new local management procedures to override national cultural interests supported by listing and conservation area designations,” said IHBC chair Jo Evans.
“The government has already agreed to protect the natural environment under its new planning framework, and it’s unthinkable not to make the same commitment to our historic places, not least for the social, cultural and economic resources that they represent for the people living there.
IHBC director Seán O’Reilly added: ‘The Bill, as currently proposed, includes a new local management tool, the neighbourhood development order, that could negate listed building and conservation area procedures that help care for a substantial national resource. This is not how we should care look after our valuable and unique historic places, which are already severely threatened by the devastating reductions in local conservation officers recently documented by the sector.”
He added: “If a small interest group, as few as three people, wants to get rid of a building protected for its national importance through listing, under the proposals they could remove that protection through the neighbourhood development order.
“Our planning system already allows for the change and even demolition of historic buildings where there are seen to be wider benefits, but it also makes sure that skilled professional advisers, including local conservation officers, all well versed in managing these processes, are involved. Through planning they ensure that national and wider community interests are respected in any decisions. Under the proposed arrangements, that protective system, put in place to care for the nation’s built heritage, could be removed in favour of the short-term interests of a very small group.”
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