Dec 7 2006
A new guide, published today by Communities and Local Government, will help councils take enforcement action against those who ignore or flout the rules which protect the country’s most historic buildings.
The Best Practice Guidance Note on Listed Building Prosecutions, addressed principally at local authority conservation and planning officers, seeks to increase awareness of the powers held by councils and other prosecuting bodies as part of the listed building enforcement regime.
A Government commissioned study showed that many local authorities do not have enough heritage cases for a dedicated heritage enforcement officer and that planning lawyers may also not have a specific expertise in heritage cases meaning an inconsistency of investigations and prosecutions across England.
Launching the guidance with Sir Neil Cossons, the Chairman of English Heritage, Lords Planning Minister Baroness Andrews said:
“Our historic environment is a unique and valuable resource, which must be protected. It drives a real sense of identity in the places we live.”
“Councils already have the powers to protect listed buildings, but some are better than others at taking enforcement action. This guidance provides step-by-step advice for local authorities on how to take forward prosecutions and how to make sure listed buildings across the country are safeguarded for future generations to enjoy.”
Sir Neil added:
“English Heritage welcomes the publication of this useful Government guidance. It will help local authorities deal with that minority of listed buildings where owners are damaging historic buildings by deliberately allowing them to fall into disrepair or carrying out illegal alterations.”
“Through this additional guidance from Government and support from English Heritage, local authorities will now have the confidence to deal with these problems swiftly and effectively, halting damage to important buildings and working with the owners to find a way to safeguard the future of the country’s most important buildings”.