Conserving Historic Buildings through the Planning System

The protection of buildings of special architectural or historic interest by listing has a number of implications. Not least is the requirement that any alteration which affects the character of the structure - outside or in - requires the consent of the Department. This is set out in Article 43 of the Planning (NI) Order (1991) and is known as Listed Building Consent. This is administered for the Department by Planning Service with NIEA: Historic Buildings Unit is an expert consultee.

The legislation also requires the Department to have 'special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses'. This means that general planning applications must also consider their impact upon listed buildings. Policies outlining how the Department will judge both permissions in regard to listed buildings are laid out in chapter 6 of Planning Policy Statement 6.

These requirements allow the our Conservation Architects to influence proposals for change to listed buildings in a positive way. Their responses to Planning Service seek to ensure that while reasonable change is allowed that the special character of buildings are preserved in the works and that the works follow the conservation principles underlying the legislation.

Planning Policy Statement 6 sums up this approach (Para 6.3):

'The Department will operate a general presumption in favour of the preservation of listed buildings. Applicants for listed building consent or planning permission affecting a listed building must therefore be able to justify their proposals and will need to show why they are desirable or necessary'.

Responsibility for enforcement against unauthorised works to listed buildings lies with Planning Service and is an important way to seek the restoration of listed buildings. Our Architects liaise closely with their colleagues in Planning Service where such issues emerge.

We also receive on occasion consultations from Planning Service in regard to these structures which are defined in Chapter 9 of Planning Policy Statement 6. Policy BH15 of this document seeks to preserve their character and promote their reuse.