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A new survey from Historic Houses and the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) across England and Wales indicates that 87% of owners surveyed see the UK\u2019s planning system for heritage as a major barrier to decarbonising it, while 62% did not apply or withdrew applications for works to heritage because of the heritage consent system.<\/p>\n
Historic Houses writes:<\/p>\n
87% of historic building owners see the UK\u2019s planning system for heritage as a major barrier to decarbonising it. This is according to\u00a0a new survey<\/a>\u00a0from Historic Houses and the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) across England and Wales.<\/p>\n The heritage consent system is supposed to protect the historic environment, helping to achieve and manage change in historic places.\u00a0In practice, however, users find the process of securing consent frustrating, time-consuming, and expensive.<\/p>\n Almost half (48%) of Historic Houses and CLA owners said the current system was \u2018poor\u2019 or \u2018very poor\u2019 \u2013 a shocking level of dissatisfaction for a public service.\u00a0These findings corroborate Historic England\u2019s own survey of listed building owners in 2022, which also found 44% of respondents thought the system was \u2018poor\u2019 or \u2018very poor\u2019.<\/p>\n According to Historic Houses and CLA members, which constitute the biggest collection of historic buildings open to the public and\/or in business use in England and Wales, only 11% felt heritage protection is working well. Three-quarters (75%) of those asked feel that radical change is needed.<\/p>\n In the last 10 years, 60% of respondents have considered carrying out work to their heritage sites which required planning or listed building consents. However, almost two-thirds (62%) of them did not apply for consent, or withdrew their applications, due to the complexity of navigating a heritage consent system that has been cut drastically in recent years.<\/p>\n Ben Cowell, Director General at Historic Houses, stated:<\/p>\n \u201cThe best way to protect heritage is for it to remain lived-in, used and loved. But owners of listed buildings face significant hurdles in enhancing the energy efficiency of their homes. The government should consider giving overarching consent for some modest changes that can be made without any undue risk to heritage. After all, as a wise man once said, if you love something \u2013 set it free.\u201d<\/p>\n Ralph Assheton, who owns Downham Hall<\/em>, and has navigated the planning system stated:<\/p>\n \u201cHeritage needs protection. But there must be a greater emphasis on the sympathetic evolution of buildings so that they continue to be relevant and viable. It is vital for the future of heritage sites that the planning system adapts, rather than continue the dogmatic insistence on preservation above all else.\u00a0The red tape and bureaucracy of the current system must be changed if we are to support achieving Net Zero targets.\u201d<\/p>\n The bulk of Britain\u2019s heritage is in non-government ownership \u2013 private sector, not-for-profit, or corporate.\u00a0 It is cared for by owner-occupiers or non-government money, often generated by small business enterprises for whom heritage is an essential ingredient \u2013 from tourism attractions to wedding venues, film locations to B&Bs. \u00a0Many of these owners fear for the long-term viability of these historic places if a change in the planning system is not forthcoming.<\/p>\n At Historic Houses, it is our strong view that the best way of protecting historic buildings is not by wrapping them up in red tape, but by giving them the means to adapt so that they remain viable and relevant for use in the present day. We would like to see Government bring forward targeted deregulation on selected energy efficiency measures to allow listed buildings to not only become more energy efficient in the present, but better futureproof them \u2013 ensuring that they are able to play their part our country\u2019s future….<\/p>\n Read more….<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A new survey from Historic Houses and the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) across England and Wales indicates that 87% of owners surveyed see the UK\u2019s planning system for heritage as a major barrier to decarbonising it, while 62% … Continue reading