IHBC NewsBlogs

The Chair of the Communities and Local Government (CLG) Commons Select Committee has criticised the Government for rejecting the suggestions within their evidence based report into the operation of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). 

The CLG Committee writes:
Clive Betts MP, Chair of the Communities and Local Government Committee, has today criticised the complacency of the Government’s response to the Committee’s report, Operation of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Clive Betts MP said: ‘I am very disappointed by the Government’s response to my Committee’s recent report on the Operation of the National Planning Policy Framework.   My Committee produced a report on the draft NPPF in 2011, which the then Minister, Greg Clark, accepted almost in full. This is in stark contrast to the Government’s latest response which rejects the vast majority of our recommendations. Current Ministers have missed an opportunity to provide greater protection against unsustainable development in England and to ensure communities aren’t subject to unwanted housing development.

‘Our report was firmly evidence-based and the culmination of a long, meticulous inquiry in which we heard from a wide range of witnesses, from parish councils to house builders, from wildlife groups to the property sector.   We actually welcomed the NPPF as a step forward, but recommended some adjustments to ensure it addressed the growing number of concerns about unsustainable development. Sadly, the Government’s response shows it is burying its head in the sand about these important public concerns.  Our report didn’t call for an overhaul of the NPPF but rather a series of changes aimed at ensuring it does the job it is intended to do. By refusing to countenance these changes, the Government risks damaging the good work that went into producing the NPPF and undermining the confidence of communities across the country in both the planning system and local decision making.’

View the news release

Download the report

View the Government response

IHBC newsblogs on the NPPF

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has launched a fund aimed at helping the heritage economy of coastal areas, providing funding for repair projects and a network of Coastal Community Teams.

DCLG writes:
A new £3 million fund will help kick-start the revival of at-risk coastal heritage that has potential to create opportunities for new businesses and jobs.  The Coastal Revival Fund will support communities looking to unlock the economic potential of those hard-to-tackle buildings, facilities and amusements such as piers, lidos and proms.   It will boost local economies by tapping into the opportunities that the heritage economy offers to new businesses and existing firms keen to grow on the back of the revival of local coastal sites.

Grants will be used to get restoration projects underway by funding initial work that will be a catalyst that attracts additional financing from the private and charitable sectors. It will unlock the community good will that is a key driver in getting projects started.   The fund will support projects that demonstrate the creativity, enterprise and passion needed to help seaside towns become year round destinations that people want to live and work in and has the potential to kick-start the revival of the remaining lidos and piers currently not reaching their full potential or facing neglect.

The National Piers Society has said that Weston Birnbeck Pier, Bognor Pier, Herne Bay Pier, and Swanage Pier are some of the historic structures that could benefit.   Seaside areas will also receive support from new Coastal Community Teams. More than £1 million will be provided for 110 teams which will create a long-term vision and strategy for their area to tackle the specific challenges their coastal town faces.

Coastal towns and villages often have individual projects underway that seek to boost the local economy and create jobs – such as a publicly funded skills scheme, a high street revival programme, or plans by the council – but they often work in isolation.  The Coastal Community Teams will bring all these elements together so all projects and proposals are part of a shared long-term vision that works together to promote local economic growth.

The Teams build on the hugely successful town team model for high streets which is successfully revitalising town centres across the country.  Each Coastal Community Team will be awarded £10,000 to establish themselves and will receive advice and support from the Coastal Communities Alliance.  Communities will be able to bid for a share of the new heritage fund to tap into the potential local heritage has to benefit the surrounding economy and wider community.

Coastal Communities Minister Penny Mordaunt said: ‘There is enormous potential in our coastal areas that we are determined to unlock so they can rise up and create new jobs and play a key part in our long-term economic plan to secure a brighter future for Britain. The announcements we are making are about building capacity and opportunity in our coastal communities.  Our new heritage fund is an important catalyst for drawing in additional funding and community good will that will get the revival of hard-to-tackle local coastal attractions underway and support new businesses  Coastal Community Teams will be essential for pulling together a shared vision that makes that most of local heritage, skills and know-how that can make our seaside towns and communities thrive.’

Nicola Radford from the Coastal Communities Alliance said: ‘The Alliance is delighted to be leading on the Coastal Community Teams programme in partnership with DCLG. We see this opportunity as recognition of the hard work of all our members in raising awareness of the unique economic issues affecting coastal communities and look forward to seeing many new and successful initiatives arising from the establishment of the Teams.’

The government is committed to supporting coastal communities through our £116 million Coastal Communities Fund which is funding 211 projects across the UK. The fund is creating almost 12,400 jobs and providing more than 6,000 training places and apprenticeships. 

View the news release 

IHBC newsblogs on coastal heritage 

IHBC newsblogs on piers 

IHBC newsblogs on funding

West Dorset District Council, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and North Dorset District Council are to work together under a newly formed tri-Council partnership agreement, which will see a single Chief Executive for all three Councils and the pooling of staff (including the planning service).

West Dorset District Council writes:
Council Tax and the tri-council partnership were among the things on the agenda at the Full Meeting of West Dorset District Council.

West Dorset District Council is positively tackling a continuing financial squeeze as it expects to have £9 million less to run services with by 2020 than it had in 2010, due to falling funding and rising costs.

Councillor Anthony Alford, Leader of West Dorset District Council, said: ‘We are proud to charge one of the lowest Council Tax rates in England. Huge efforts are being made to reduce costs and protect services. We are working in partnership with other councils where we can and also reviewing how we provide services. This is a difficult time for local Government but we are meeting the tough financial situation head-on.’

The district council only keeps about eight per cent of the bill. The rest is made up of charges from Dorset County Council, Dorset Fire and Rescue, Dorset Police and town and parish councils.

Councillors also voted to enter a new Collaboration Agreement with Weymouth & Portland Borough Council and North Dorset District Council.

The agreement allows the formation of the ground-breaking tri-council partnership. It also makes Matt Prosser, who is currently Chief Executive of West Dorset District Council and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, available to North Dorset District Council.  It is hoped the agreement will reduce costs by around £6 million across the partnership by 2020. Under the agreement Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, West Dorset District Council and North Dorset District Council will share a single workforce. Each council will remain independent, equal and have their own decision making councillors.

View the news release

Search Planning Portal

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has reported on the progress of land sales by government departments and the effects on housing site availability.

DCLG writes:
Enough unused public sector land has been released to build over 103,000 new homes, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced today (4 March 2015).  The amount of land sold by the government surpasses the original commitment set by the Prime Minister, and is expected to rise again by the end of March this year.

Now, the government is calling on councils and developers to help turn it into housing as soon as possible, and is urging local authorities up and down the country to follow this example and sell their redundant sites and buildings.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: ‘House building is at the heart of the government’s long-term economic plan. That’s why, rather than leaving surplus public sector land idle, we are putting it to good use by releasing it to build new homes across the country.  This is part of wider efforts that have got Britain building again, leading to the delivery of 700,000 new homes since the end of 2009.  I now want to see councils following Whitehall’s example and explore what they can do to release land and deliver new homes and savings for local taxpayers.’

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said: ‘Housing starts are at their highest annual total since 2007, but it’s clear we need to maintain this momentum and build the homes communities want and need.  That’s why for the last 4 years we’ve pulled out all the stops to release formerly-used surplus public sector land for house building – meaning we have now exceeded our own target.’

The release of land is as follows:

• Ministry of Defence – enough land for 38,661 homes, released ahead of schedule
• Homes and Communities Agency – enough land for 18,307 homes
• Department of Health and NHS – enough land for 13,039 homes
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – enough land for 11,675 homes
• London Legacy Development Corporation – enough land for 6,321 homes
• Department for Transport – enough land for 4,653 homes
• Public Corporations, such as Crown Estates – enough land for 4,113 homes
• Greater London Authority – enough land for 2,652 homes
• Ministry of Justice – enough land for 1,804 homes
• other smaller departments – enough land for 1,967 homes

View the news release

Download a list for each Local Authority

IHBC newsblogs on housing

Ministers have announced the outcome of a consultation exercise to establish proposed location shortlist for the UK spaceport, with 5 locations across the UK, many with interesting heritage legacies and associations, old and new.

The UK Space Agency writes:
Plans for Britain to be home of Europe’s first spaceport moved a step closer.  Publishing the outcome of a 3 month consultation with a range of interested parties, the government confirmed widespread support for its plans. This paves the way towards making commercial spaceflight operations in the UK a reality.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) shortlisted a number of possible locations for the spaceport in July 2014 and this has today been updated. The shortlisted sites are now Campbeltown, Glasgow Prestwick and Stornoway in Scotland, as well as Newquay in England and Llanbedr in Wales. RAF Leuchars was also confirmed as a potential temporary facility.

The government has ruled out 2 airfields at RAF Lossiemouth and Kinloss Barracks for operational reasons, given their vital role in Defence. Other locations can still be submitted if operators believe they can fulfil the requirements. Aviation minister Robert Goodwill said: ‘I want Britain to lead the way in commercial spaceflight. Establishing a spaceport will ensure we are at the forefront of this exciting new technology. Today’s consultation response marks another step forward in our work to support this emerging industry, which will create jobs and drive economic growth.’

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: ‘Paving the way for a national spaceport is one of our biggest science achievements in this parliament. It greatly underscores the work of our space innovation and growth strategy to position the UK as a world-leader in this exciting arena that is expected to be worth up to £400 billion a year to the global economy by 2030.  Launching satellites and operating commercial space flights from our shores was once only confined to the depths of science fiction, but with the results of this consultation we are one step closer to making this a very real ability in the near future.’

Work to establish the feasibility of a UK spaceport began in 2012, when the Department for Transport and UK Space Agency asked the CAA to review the operational environment and regulations to allow spaceplanes to operate. Last year, the government launched its space innovation and growth strategy 2014 to 2030, which set out the economic advantages of the UK becoming a European focal point for the pioneers of commercial spaceflights and scientific research.  The next step is for the DfT to develop a detailed technical specification of spaceport requirements, prior to inviting proposals. This is due to be published later this year.

View the press release

The High Court has ruled that the decision of a London council to designate the area around a demolition-threatened pub as a conservation area should be quashed, after deciding that the consultation held by the council did not meet the minimum standards required by law.

further details…

Search Planning Portal

The Telegraph recently reported on the acquisition of Lord Byron’s Grade I listed former home (139 Piccadilly), which will now be converted from offices into a private dwelling with swimming pool and gym.

View the Telegraph article

View the planning history and application information for 139 Piccadilly 

View the LBC application for 139 Piccadilly conversion

BBC News recently reported on the 60th anniversary of the publication of ‘Outrage’, within the Architectural Review magazine (a critical look at the architecture and development of British towns by Ian Nairn), inviting Jonathan Glancey to reflect on the relevance of Nairn’s opinions based on the current situation.

View the BBC article 

Watch Ian Nairn ‘Nairn Across Britain’ archival programmes on BBC iPlayer 

Historic England and the English Heritage (EH) Trust (which launch formally on 1 April) have announced highlights of their programmes for the coming years, with new websites live on 16 March.

English Heritage writes:
The restoration of one of London’s greatest Art Deco mansions, a £52m conservation programme for many of the country’s most important historic sites, a new project that invites the public to add information to the official ‘list’ of listed buildings, and a definitive study of the Staffordshire Hoard were among the highlights announced today (Thursday 26th February 2015) at the Chapter House in Westminster Abbey as the two successor bodies to English Heritage set out their plans for the years ahead.

From 1 April, English Heritage will separate into two organisations:

• Historic England, will be the new name for the public body that champions and protects England’s historic environment, everything from prehistoric remains to post-war office buildings, and
• The English Heritage Trust, a new independent charity, retaining the name English Heritage, will look after – on behalf of the nation – the National Heritage Collection, consisting of more than 400 historic sites across England including Stonehenge, Dover Castle and some of the best preserved parts of Hadrian’s Wall.

The new English Heritage charity will use a Government investment of almost £80m to bring and keep the story of England alive through a major programme of interpretation, presentation and conservation. This will allow the stories of individual properties to be fully told and will help the new charity towards self-funding status. English Heritage already engages with over 10 million people each year.

Historic England will champion the historic environment all around us. It will provide expert advice, promote constructive conservation, carry out research and give guidance and grants to everyone from local communities to national policymakers, from owners of listed and older homes to volunteers saving a building at risk. Historic England will also licence the new English Heritage charity to look after the sites in the National Heritage Collection and appoint trustees to the charity’s board.

This huge boost for England’s heritage comes in a year when the country celebrates a remarkable set of historic anniversaries including the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, the 100th anniversary of the Women’s Institute, the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the 750th anniversary of the first elected parliament, which sat in the Chapter House itself.

Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said: ‘For both the people who live here and the scores of visitors who flock to our shores, England’s heritage is easily one of our greatest national assets. But preserving our heritage cannot just be about protecting buildings, we have to understand them better and be able to explain their value and importance to the world.  The new model launched today allows for just that and will give these bodies the freedom they need to explore new and entrepreneurial ways of protecting, promoting and bringing our heritage to life. By safeguarding our nation’s heritage in this way we will continue to attract visitors to our heritage sites, boosting the country’s tourism industry and driving economic growth for many years to come.’

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said: ‘As part of our long-term economic plan, this government is cutting waste and driving reform to save taxpayers billions. Since the last General Election we have reduced the number of public bodies by around a third and saved over £2.6bn. This new model provides a better deal for visitors and taxpayers and I wish Historic England and The English Heritage Trust every success.’

Sir Laurie Magnus, Chairman of the Historic England Commission, said: ‘We’ve reached this landmark moment for the future of England’s heritage because of the commitment and support of the whole heritage sector represented here today. I know we can count upon your continuing support for the vital work we all do to ensure that England’s heritage is understood, protected, championed and loved’.

Sir Tim Laurence, Chairman of the new English Heritage charity: ‘People are increasingly looking for experiences that bring history to life. I believe the new charity will be particularly well placed to do this through a combination of imagination, scholarship and an unwavering desire to inspire and entertain visitors to our remarkable collection of historic sites.’ 

English Heritage’s highlights for the years ahead include:

• The launch of inspirational projects at sites that will capture the imagination of our visitors: this year will see the re-presentation and restoration of the Art Deco Eltham Palace in Greenwich while to mark the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, there will be new exhibitions at those sites associated with the Duke of Wellington namely, Wellington Arch and Apsley House in London and Walmer Castle in Kent
• Next year at Rievaulx Abbey in North Yorkshire, we will open a new museum to tell the 900-year story of the abbey and display its nationally important collection of artefacts. At the 1066 Battle of Hastings Abbey and Battlefield, we will improve our presentation of the most famous battle fought on English soil, and the abbey and great house that were later built on the site: a new exhibition in the Great Gatehouse of the medieval abbey will incorporate previously unseen artefacts and for the first time visitors will be able to enjoy the magnificent view from the roof, to look over the town of Battle, and gain a better understanding of the landscape on which the battle was fought
• The launch of a major £52m conservation programme – the biggest in the history of the National Heritage Collection – which will clear the backlog of the highest priority repairs at sites across the country including Hadrian’s Wall in the North, Queen Victoria’s family home, Osborne, in the South, Framlingham Castle in the East, and Iron Bridge in the West. Following a pilot programme next year, English Heritage will establish a new in-house team of expert stone-masons, providing an invaluable resource of traditional crafts and skills
• The launch of new interpretation at many of the free sites in our care, in particular prehistoric and Roman sites, including new walking trails, maps and itineraries, and mobile media content 

Historic England’s highlights of the year ahead include:

• The launch of Enriching the List, a project enabling the public to upload their own information and images to the National Heritage List for England
• The investigation of the Staffordshire Hoard in order to understand its art-historical and cultural context and produce a definitive publication and online database
• Heritage Action Zones where we shall bring all our different expertise to bear and work with local people to unlock the potential of the historic environment in areas of economic need
• The rescue of major buildings on the Heritage at Risk register, for example, the Wedgwood Museum, Stoke-on-Trent (in partnership with the Prince’s Regeneration Trust), the Grand Hotel, Birmingham, and St Luke’s in Liverpool known locally as ‘the bombed out church’ and derelict since the Second World War
• The regeneration of Murray’s Mill in Ancoats, Manchester, to bring back into use these magnificent buildings in one of the earliest industrial places in England
• Grants to restore Temple Mill, an extraordinary Egyptian style textile mill in Leeds, and Wolfeton Riding House, Dorset, one of the oldest in England, dating from the late 16th century
• New online access to more than 620,000 historic photographs of cities, towns and villages all over the country. This new resource, to be known as England’s Places, is the digitised version of our famous Architectural Red Boxes and will make it possible to delve into the past of favourite places, and
• In summer, hundreds of volunteers will get involved in surveying the condition of local grade II listed buildings.

New websites for Historic England and the English Heritage charity will go live on 16 March.

View the press release

IHBC newsblogs on heritage reform and the launch of Historic England 

The Coalition has confirmed moves to give the Welsh administration greater planning powers in line with the recommendations of the Silk Commission.

This ‘devolution package’, announced last Friday, means Wales should have additional powers over energy, transport, the environment and elections. The measures would mean that:

• Energy projects up to 350 megawatts should be decided by Welsh Ministers. This would include most onshore wind farms and renewable technologies to harness tidal power
• The National Assembly should have powers over the development of ports to improve Wales’s transport infrastructure
• The National Assembly should have the power to lower the voting age to 16 for Assembly elections

The package also says that Wales should move to a ‘reserved powers model’ – in line with the model in Scotland – with the law setting out which responsibilities remain at Westminster.

In the case of energy projects above the 350 megawatt threshold, which will remain the responsibility of the UK Government, there are plans for a statutory obligation to consult the Welsh Government and to take into account planning policies in Wales when consenting such projects.

The UK Government has also agreed that Welsh Ministers should be able to make building regulations in respect of all buildings in Wales.

As part of the proposed new arrangements Welsh ministers will take responsibility marine conservation and licensing and planning in offshore areas.

There will also be moves to align the administrative areas of water and sewerage undertakers to follow the Wales -England border. At present these reflect river catchments.

Search Planning Portal

A new fund has been launched by the Scottish Government to help identify and make the most of town centre assets, carrying out surveys which map all the assets within the area, with the funding to be administered by Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS), the network for community-led regeneration in Scotland. 

The Scottish Government writes:
Towns will be able to bid for new funding to help them find ways to develop empty and underused properties in their areas, Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil has announced.

The new Asset Mapping Funding Pots will give development trusts the chance to conduct surveys, work with stakeholders and consult with their communities on the best methods of rejuvenating their town centres.  Mr Neil announced the £50,000 fund on a visit to Clackmannan whose development trust was established in direct response to issues faced in its historic town centre and across the wider community.

He said: ‘The Scottish Government is clear, our towns should be vibrant, attractive and safe places where local people and visitors want to spend their time and money.  Understanding the nature of the assets in a local area – whether it’s buildings, artefacts or active community groups – is fundamental to revitalising town centres.  This new funding will give development trusts opportunities to carry out fact finding exercises and to directly consult with their communities on how town centre activity can be prioritised to meet with their aspirations.

‘Across Scotland we are seeing more and more examples of business and residents taking the initiative and regenerating their area. The people who work and live there are the ones best placed to understand, identify and promote the opportunities that lie within their town centre.  I look forward to seeing how the Trusts who are successful in their bids, use the funding pots to develop plans which will help to prioritise support for local assets, which will then attract new uses, new business and revitalise local economy.’

There are currently more than 226 development trusts operating across Scotland. Development trusts are owned and managed by the local community with the aim of regenerating or addressing specific economic, social, environmental or cultural issues in their area.  The funding will be administered by Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS), the network for community-led regeneration in Scotland.

Ian Cooke, the director of DTAS said: ‘Communities have a key role to play in leading or contributing to town centre renewal processes.

‘These grants will enable a number of communities to explore and define what that contribution might be – whether it is finding productive uses for empty buildings, identifying new enterprise and business opportunities, or running cultural and social activities which support our high streets.’ 

View the press release

Development Trusts Association news and funding

IHBC newsblogs on town centres 

IHBC newsblogs on funding

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has announced that 23 March will be a day to celebrate all the public houses that have been listed as Assets of Community Value (ACV) and a call for communities to consider using the powers for their own local pub.

DCLG writes:
Ministers have called on people across the country to ‘list their local’ so pubs which play a crucial role at the heart of our communities can enjoy even greater protection and remain a social hub for future generations to come.

A national celebration day will be held on 23 March to raise a glass to the success of hundreds of pubs already listed as assets of community value by local people.  Community Pubs Minister Kris Hopkins has written to the landlords of all listed locals asking them to take part in this day of celebration. He is now urging other people across the country to consider listing their local to give it this additional protection.

Due to the passion demonstrated for pubs, ministers are in the process of changing the law to give communities a say in the planning process when changes are proposed to the use of their listed locals.  The department is currently producing a ‘community asset certificate’ which will be made available to every listed local to hang behind the bar, giving landlords the chance to celebrate the fact their pub is prized so highly by those who matter the most, the patrons.

Kris Hopkins said: ‘A lot of hard work has been put in by communities up and down the land to protect their beloved pubs from sell-off and I believe many more could be afforded this protection, which is why we are calling on people to consider whether they might want to list their local.  The Great British pub is a national treasure which is why we are determined to protect it. I am delighted this government’s action is providing even greater protection for local pubs and giving communities more of a say in their preservation and look forward to toasting this success on community pubs day.’

Communities Minister Stephen Williams said: ‘Community rights are a local revolution – equipping local people with the tools they need to have a real say in how their communities are run. This government doesn’t do things by half measures and by listing local pubs as community assets regulars can prevent developers calling time on their much-loved local.’

View the news release 

IHBC NewsBlogs on ACV’s

Campaigners have welcomed a decision by a developer Gladman to drop legal proceedings over refusal of planning permission for a 112-homes development at Baxter’s Field off Summer Street in the Slad Valley near Stroud made famous by writer Laurie Lee, though earlier this month a decision to approve plans by the same developer, for up to 150 new homes on fields nearby on Mankley Field near Kings Stanley, was upheld at the High Court. 

BBC writes:
Developer Gladman wanted to build 112 homes on Baxter’s Field off Summer Street in the Slad Valley, which was made famous by writer Laurie Lee.

Stroud District Council and a planning inspector both rejected the planning application last year.

Gladman sought a judicial review to try to reverse the decision, but has now withdrawn its legal challenge.

Richard Lloyd, from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Gloucestershire, said it was ‘great news for Stroud’.

‘ [It] should give some hope to other threatened landscapes across the UK which have particular heritage value. When sound explanations and a reasoned defence are mounted against an unreasonable planning application, developers can see their plans defeated, however big their chest of fighting funds,’ he said. 

BBC news article

Liverpool City Council has decided to go to the High Court to challenge the decision by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to reject the proposed regeneration of the Welsh Streets.

Confirming the appeal Assistant Mayor and Cabinet member for Housing, Councillor Ann O’Byrne, said: ‘We are not prepared to stand by and see Eric Pickles ignore local people and his own independent planning inspector. The long-suffering residents of the Welsh Streets have now been waiting more than a decade for new homes and we are standing up against this unacceptable political interference from Whitehall and challenging the decision.  This scheme was carefully developed and supported by the vast majority of local people in a thorough and detailed consultation.’

See the report and watch an aerial drone footage

Search Planning Portal

The Royal Society of Arts (RSA), supported by the Arts Council, has suggested that a new contract should be brokered between government and the arts and culture sector, with a linked event scheduled for 11 March.

The incoming UK government and a future spending review is likely to have a significant impact on the future of heritage, arts and culture in England. The RSA is therefore asking whether this presents a prime opportunity for the sector to come together to form a new contract to outline a more ambitious relationship and strategy to run across the term of the next administration.

The RSA is inviting key stakeholders from across the culture, health, education, local government and creative industries to the event on 11 March to debate the details of the proposed contract.

Further information of how to watch the live stream of the event can be found on The Arts Council website, or follow the debate on twitter using the #culturalcontract hashtag.

For the event see the RSA website

RSA CEO’s blog background

A mural by the street artist Banksy on the side of a Grade II listed Georgian home has been given retrospective listed building consent (LBC) by Cheltenham Borough Council.

The national media have reported on the mural, which depicts two people with 1950’s style listening devices, beside a telephone box, and has roused much comment as it is located in the same town as GCHQ. The planning committee report is an interesting assessment of the mural, and shows comments submitted on the application (28 comments were received, with 23 in support and 5 objecting).

View the BBC news article on the work

Download the application report on the Cheltenham Borough Council website

A proposal for 153 houses in Cornwall has been refused on appeal due to the likely effect on the Grade II* listed church.

The decision notice refers to the historical significance of the building and setting through time:

‘Its significance lies therefore not just in its history and architecture but also in its location on the ridge and its historic role as a focal point in the rural landscape.’ (para 8)

The inspector is also critical of the proposed site layout and design based on the potential effects of on the character of the area:

‘I consider little if anything of its historic rural character and appearance, or evidence of its role within an ancient network of routes would remain readily discernable’ (para 18)

The decision notice balances the ‘less than substantial’ potential harm on the significance of the historic setting with the proposed affordable housing and additional cemetery land, stating:

‘Whilst harm to the significance of the heritage assets would be less than substantial, I consider that this is not outweighed by the benefit of the provision of market and affordable housing, the provision of open space, the opening up of access to the pill box and the marginal potential benefit of the offered cemetery land’ (para 28)

The Appeal reference was APP/D0840/A/14/2221806

Download the decision notice

View more cases relevant to the historic environment on the EH Legal Twitter site