Heritage Alliance has submitted a statement of support for the Localism Bill’s Amendment 149 (to leave out paras 22 -24 of Schedule 12 of the Bill, which restrict the application of Listed Building and Conservation Area legislation in the operation of planning permissions).
The submission reports:
‘This amendment will ensure neighbourhood forums and parish/town councils will consider the impact on the setting of listed buildings and the character of conservation areas when they decide what does and does not need planning permission in their areas. This amendment will ensure that the more than local significance of these important parts of our heritage cannot be overlooked.
Some 10,000 conservation areas protect historic centres across England. Without this amendment, the protection for nationally and internationally important historic sites and buildings, such as the centres of York and Chester, will be substantially reduced.
The amendments will not restrict neighbourhood forums and parish/town councils from using neighbourhood development orders to approve change which impacts on conservation areas or listed buildings. It simply ensures that these impacts have to be considered.
We would like the Government to provide an assurance that it is not their intention to reduce the levels of protection for the historic environment and to recognise in legislation that there is more than local interest in listed buildings and conservation areas which should be taken into account in neighbourhood planning. ‘
Heritage Link: LINK
