The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) has welcomed government’s conclusion not to pursue private ‘self-certification’ of public interest in heritage works in England following a time-constrained and poorly received consultation on changes to listed building consent (LBC) from the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) last August.
IHBC Chair Jo Evans said: ‘This response represents good news for England’s listed buildings, if only mostly by default. The proposed changes would have introduced a confusing and opaque system of control and regulation that could not have increased protection or conservation. In contrast, the present system works well and economically, even if only when the local authority has skilled conservation advisers such as IHBC members in place. However we do largely welcome the final proposals.’
‘The substantial and unified opposition to the most unwelcome proposal – the contradictory idea of a private ‘self-certification’ of the public interest in heritage works – represents a huge win for designated buildings and for the conservation sector as a whole.’
‘Having dropped that extreme response in favour of a lighter and more realistic support for accreditation, we now have to work out detailed alternatives. Indeed the IHBC’s consultation panel is working hard at considering these and other options as we speak!’
IHBC Policy Chair Mike Brown said: ‘Despite the poor consultation paper and bad timing, the 432 responses to England’s listed building consent (LBC) consultation mostly did the job! The clear statements coming from across the huge diversity of parties helped underpin the IHBC’s front-line position on key issues.’
Headline conclusions from government showed lessons well learned:
i. Option 1, introducing a system of deemed consent. We do not plan to take this proposal forward at this time.
ii. Option 2, introducing a system of local and national class consents. We will take this option forward and introduce the necessary legislation required to achieve this.
iii. Option 3, introducing a Certificate of Lawful Works. We will take this option forward in relation to proposed works, and introduce the necessary legislation required to achieve this.
iv. Option 4, introducing a system of accredited agents. We will take this option forward, but seek a non-statutory route, working with industry to realise the most appropriate way to introduce a light-touch system.
v. On the issue of reform of enforcement powers for buildings at risk, building on responses received from the consultation, we will consider further what measures – both statutory and non-statutory – are most appropriate to deal with buildings at risk.
See some quotable quotes from the consultation at: LINK
See further comments on the IHBC’s Linkedin Group: 
Download the report from: LINK
Download the report HERE
For details on the benefits of and need for skilled conservation services see: LINK
