Planning system puts old buildings in peril
sir – Forty years ago, my wife and I renovated a lovely Grade II house in Winchester. We discussed our ideas with the conservation officer and, after a few niggles, finished the job.
Twenty-five years ago, we renovated a Grade II* building on Dartmoor. This time it was harder, with more red tape, concerns about bats and poor to nonexistent decision-making by the planners.
Today, we are renovating another Grade II building. Never again: the process is now nigh-on impossible.
The planning system, when applied to listed buildings, is no longer fit for purpose. The systems designed to safeguard such buildings are helping to destroy them. There seem to be no cohesive nationwide policies on conservation. Each district council has its own planning department and its approach depends on the knowledge and foibles of its officers, who are generally unelected, untrained and above all worried about losing their jobs. The safest option for them is to say no to everything, and to call for reports from bat experts, architects, archaeologists and anyone else they can think of.
The result is that those law-abiding souls who follow the planning application route have a gruelling experience. Others see this and decide to avoid the planners and just get on with their renovations, taking the view that the risk of being caught is better than going through the appalling system. Neither of these situations is desirable.
Nigel Sawrey-cookson
Bagtor, Devon