The IHBC has launched a new web-based commentary on listed building prosecution cases, prepared by IHBC Committee Vice Chair Bob Kindred and based on his database listing of cases, also available on the IHBC’s web site.
Bob Kindred MBE said: ‘I produced these commentaries in response to specific requests from the courts and local planning authorities for additional information about individual cases beyond the short summary in the IHBC’s Listed Buildings Prosecutions Database, now posted on the IHBC’s website.’
‘While the Database has proved to be invaluable, the Judge in a recent case in Richmond on Thames had said to the local planning authority that more background would assist when considering sentencing in future. The additional information is also intended to reinforce the best practice guidance issued by government to local authorities in 2006 relating to listed building prosecutions which followed the high profile prosecution case at ‘Greenside, Wentworth, Surrey’.’
IHBC Policy Secretary Mike Brown said: ‘In this increasingly litigious age clearly it is vital that public authorities draw on the best possible professional advice when making decisions. For decisions on listed buildings and conservation areas this is particularly important as the general public are such strong champions of their heritage and expect it to be properly looked after. These commentaries highlight how vital it is that Local Authorities retain their in-house conservation expertise.’
Seán O’Reilly, IHBC Director, said: ‘This publication is currently in the form of a digital ‘flipbook’, so it can be accessed easily from the IHBC’s web site by anyone. This is in line with our policy to keep web content as widely accessible as we can, remembering that we are a charity funded almost exclusively by fee-paying members.’
‘If prospective partners are interested in developing a more substantial or wider-ranging publication, or in providing more detailed consideration of cases, they should contact Bob through the IHBC.’
To contact Bob Kindred through the IHBC email government@ihbc.org.uk
For advice, guidance and explanation on England’s local regulatory infrastructure for conservation, and the critical role played by local Conservation Officers and services, see: LINK
For the prosecutions review see the flipbook linked from our local conservation services pages and at: LINK
For the prosecutions database listing see the relevant tabs on the resource page at: LINK
For the IHBC on the Local Government Ombudsman’s heritage cases see: LINK
To register your IHBC membership application online and benefit from IHBC’s services and support, see: LINK
For a recent report on a prosecution in archaeology see: LINK
