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Cadw's explanation of listing

Cadw's explanation of scheduling

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Proposals for change

A single system of designation The key proposal here is for a “unified list” of all historic buildings and sites, covering all archaeologically or architecturally important sites. It is suggested that there should be greater flexibility than at present in determining what sites or structures should be listed and how they should be conserved. Management arrangements and controls would depend on the type and nature of the asset. It is also suggested that the current grading system for listed buildings and registered parks and gardens (I, II* and II) might be dispensed with.(1)

Criteria and discretion It is suggested that discretion should be allowed within the listing process, for example, by taking account of building condition, or the future of its neighbourhood. An alternative to listing, for instance, could be to use development control or recording. Given the confusion that can exist over the extent of the curtilage of a listed building, it is proposed that plans or maps should be used to define protected areas.

Consultation and appeals Should owners have a right to consultation when listing or scheduling is being considered? At present no such right exists. Likewise it is suggested that there should be a formal right of appeal against a decision to designate.

Management agreements It is suggested that management agreements with owners could be deployed as an alternative to statutory consents in certain circumstances.

Landscape It is suggested that management agreements covering areas of natural or historic environment in rural contexts could be an alternative to consent requirements and could be recognised in statute. It is also proposed that the register of historic landscapes could be made statutory.

Comments

It will be apparent from this very simplified analysis of the proposals that major changes could be coming to a system that has been familiar as a means of protecting historic sites and buildings for many years. We will be analysing the document and its implications in more detail in our Bulletin. Since the drafting of the White Paper will be Whitehall led, we recommend that the more detailed discussion and justifications for the key proposals in the English consultation paper be read alongside the paper issued by WAG. There are also some subtle differences in these proposals. We urge societies to look carefully at what is proposed and to consider responding with their views by November 21 2003.

(1) In England, it is proposed additionally that some grade II listed buildings could in future be migrated from a national unified list to a purely local list.

14 October 2003