UK Government Commits to Consult on Making it Harder to Demolish Locally Important Buildings

The UK Government has committed to consulting on requiring planning permission to demolish unlisted buildings. This was in response to amendments to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill to require planning permission for demolishing buildings put forward by Baroness Andrews, Lord Carrington, and Lord Shipley and promoted by the Victorian Society.

Currently, most unlisted buildings outside a conservation area can be demolished without planning permission. The move comes in the wake of the controversial demolition of the Crooked House pub in Dudley, West Midlands, which highlighted the vulnerability of unlisted buildings – irrespective of how loved by local communities they are.

Industrial buildings are particularly vulnerable to demolition if not listed, scheduled, or lying within a Conservation Area. Permitted development rights allow for demolition works outside a conservation area for all types of building (barring a pub, wine bar, or other drinking establishment) as long as prior notice is given to the local authority of the means of demolition, under the Town and Country Palling (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015.

Victorian Society Director, Joe O’Donnell, said: ‘I am delighted that the Government has committed to consult on our proposal to remove permitted development rights for demolition. This recognises that the current system is not working for the ordinary local buildings people care about. It simply cannot be right that you need planning permission to make major changes to a building but not to knock it down! This is insanely wasteful in a climate emergency and it is absurd to be able to so easily destroy housing in a housing emergency.’

We urge the public to respond to the consultation and push for the removal of demolition rights for buildings pre 1948 when it is published. The changes won’t mean that you can’t demolish these buildings just that planning permission is needed. Planning permission will be needed for a new building on the site any way so the same application could consider demolition and rebuild. I am very grateful for the support of Baroness Andrews, Lord Carrington, Lord Shipley and everyone across the heritage sector who have helped get the proposals this far.’