Eleven national organizations, led by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and including the IHBC, have warned that a ‘very restrictive’ consultation period on plans to revamp the listed building consent (LBC) system is ‘particularly unhelpful and ill judged’.
The RTPI writes:
In a letter sent to the Department of Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), the expert bodies highlighted the unease felt about restricting the consultation period from 26 July to 23 August.
Trudi Elliott, RTPI Chief Executive said: ‘We do not believe that the new guidance is being followed properly. There is a responsibility on DCMS to ensure that fair and reasonable consideration is given to timeframes for consultation which should be both proportionate and realistic in order to allow stakeholders sufficient time to provide a considered response. The default response to consultation time scales should not be four weeks or less.’…
Whilst the Government’s new Consultation Principles may allow for greater flexibility, the 30 day period in this instance is particularly unhelpful and ill judged when:
1. It largely falls in the holiday/Olympics month of August
2. parts of the proposals are known to be contentious and a question has already been raised about their legality
3. English Heritage, in arranging briefing events with stakeholders, has been forced to acknowledge that ‘we recognise that it may be difficult for representatives to attend these meetings.’
4. the result is likely to be counterproductive, since respondents will have insufficient input from those fully engaged with the subject to fully compose their responses on this vital issue.
The signatories believe that the new principles have been breached. The letter asks that urgent consideration be given to extending the closing date to allow stakeholders adequate time to respond to the proposals.
For the government’s consultation principles see: LINK
Download the letter at: LINK
RTPI News: LINK
Search Planning Resource: LINK
