Local Listed Building Consent orders (LLBCO’s) are to be implemented in the Little Germany conservation area of Bradford city, which the local press are reporting as the first area of the UK to adopt such measures, with the background summarised below for the convenience of IHBC members.
LLBCO’s were introduced under the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (ERR) Act 2013, and allow specified changes to take place without the need to apply for listed building consent. The Little Germany LLBCO covers conversion works to alter the ground, basement, upper floors and roof spaces to residential, office, retail and leisure uses, subject to specified conditions within the Order, together with submission of an LLBCO Notice with heritage impact assessment and detailed programme of works.
Bradford City Council writes that the reasoned justification for the implementation of the order is as follows: ‘The listed office and warehouse buildings of Little Germany are of largely homogeneous character, in terms of age, architectural style, building materials, architectural designers, original use and significance. A holistic rather than piecemeal approach to their regeneration will be by far the most effective tool for achieving the aspirations of the owners, existing residents and users, and that of the Local Authority. It will also be the most effective way in which the Local Authority can comply with its duty to preserve the special architectural and historic interest of the buildings which are the subject of the Order.’ (section 7 of the report to Executive committee).
View the Telegraph and Argus articles about the implementation of the LLBCO:
- Warehouse conversions
- ‘Little Germany first place in UK selected for new planning rules to help convert historic mills’
View the Bradford City Council Executive Committee papers relating to the implementation of the LLBCO
Find out more about Little Germany, its architecture and business spaces
View the Bradford City Council Little Germany conservation area appraisal
English Heritage web pages on guidance on the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (ERR) Act 2013
