Heritage Reforms - An Update

More reforms came into effect on 6th April 2014 as a result of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 along with changes to the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.  The changes include: 

• Better defining the extent of protection of a listed building through revisions to the list descriptions, excluding attached buildings and structures and those within the curtilage of the principal listed building from protection. Also by stating definitively that some feature of a listed building is not of special architectural or historic interest.
• Allowing certificates of immunity from listing to be granted at any time.
• Replacing conservation area consent with planning permission.
• Introducing a new Certificates of Lawfulness of Proposed Works to Listed Buildings (enacted on  6th April 2014) - valid for 10 years - that categorically confirms that the works described do not affect the character of the listed building and therefore do not require Listed Building Consent.
• New National and Local Listed Building Consent Orders under which consent is not required for specified works of the type described in the Order (enacted on   6th April 2014). 
• Introducing heritage partnership agreements  (enacted on  6th April 2014) between local authorities and owners setting out works for which listed building consent is granted (excluding demolition). 

If you require further information of the above matters or wish to progress a review of a list description, Certificate of Lawfulness or a heritage partnership agreement, contact us at [email protected]