Memorandum by Grosvenor Ltd (HIS 26)
The Committee of the Office of the Deputy Prime
Minister has decided to conduct an inquiry into the Role of Historic
Buildings in Urban Regeneration following the call for evidence
in May 2002 by its predecessor committee. Witnesses are invited
to submit written evidence on the points below and other relevant
topics to the Committee.
THE CONTRIBUTION
OF HISTORIC
BUILDINGS TO
URBAN REGENERATION
— Fundamental—otherwise it would
be urban redevelopment not regeneration.
— An opportunity to keep and restore
the best as a reminder of the history of the area.
— Restoration of historic buildings
is likely to be financially unviable and may need subsidies from
public funds or commercial development.
— Urban regeneration, as opposed to
redevelopment, should be primarily linked to social rather than
physical regeneration. So far as physical regeneration is concerned
though, the contribution of existing, often well loved and familiar
buildings, is frequently more important than the new buildings.
THE ROLE
AND EFFECTIVENESS
OF THE
PUBLIC AGENCIES
RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE BUILT
AND HISTORIC
ENVIRONMENT IN
ENCOURAGING URBAN
REGENERATION
— A multitude of development agencies
can lead to confusion and different agendas.
— Inexperience/lack of resource of
local authority planners leads to delays, lack of decision making
and lack of imagination.
— Over strict approach by English heritage
and Conservation Officers.
WHETHER THOSE
ORGANISATIONS CARRYING
OUT REGENERATION
PROJECTS GIVE
SUFFICIENT REGARD
TO HISTORIC
BUILDINGS
— Probably not—lack of incentives,
financial burdens, lack of expertise, restrictions on the most
beneficial use etc.
— Too many other calls on development
profit—affordable housing, Section 106's—to leave
enough cash to deal with historic buildings.
WHETHER THE
PLANNING SYSTEM
AND THE
LISTING OF
HISTORIC BUILDINGS
AID OR
HINDER URBAN
REGENERATION
— Hinder. Listed building criteria
too often applied to all "old" buildings, especially
within Conservation Areas.
— Controls tend to be negative—"you
can't do x, y and z" rather than positive. Even the title,
Development Control Officer, has negative connotations.
WHETHER ALL
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
TAKE ADEQUATE
ACCOUNT OF
THE HISTORIC
ENVIRONMENT
— Some do—Customs and Excise
certainly don't.
WHETHER FISCAL
AND LEGISLATIVE
CHANGES SHOULD
BE MADE
— All works to Listed Buildings should
be free of VAT.
— Greater flexibility within PPG 15
for dealing with buildings where there is limited scope for viable
economic use.
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