HC Deb 14 April 1967 vol 744 cc1514-5

(1) If it appears to a local authority or in Scotland a local planning authority that any works are urgently necessary for the preservation of a building to which this subsection applies which is situated in their area or district, they may, after giving to the owner of the building not less than seven days' notice in writing of the proposed execution of the works, take such steps as they consider appropriate for executing the works.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section applies to any unoccupied building in respect of which a building preservation order is in force or which is included in a list compiled or approved under Section 32 of the Planning Act or Section 28 of the Scottish Planning Act other than a building of a description specified in subsection (2) of Section 30 of the Planning Act or, as the case may be, the proviso to subsection (1) of Section 27 of the Scottish Planning Act.—[Mrs. Corbet.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

11.7 a.m.

Mrs. Freda Corbel (Peckham)

I beg to move, That the Clause be read a Second time.

The principle of the Clause was agreed in Committee. At the same time it was considered advisable to redraft the wording to make it more satisfactory. The object of the Clause is to give a local authority an opportunity to prevent such deterioration in a building whose preservation it is considering as would make its preservation impossible.

It frequently happens that the owner of a building finds that he is no longer able to keep it in a state of repair—it is too expensive for him to do so—and he accordingly applies for permission to pull it down. It is then for the local authority concerned to decide whether or not to allow the demolition of the building. During the period that must elapse before the local authority has made up its mind there may be certain slight damage to the building. A hole in the roof may allow further damp to enter the building, with the ruination of valuable plaster work, or there may be the intrusion of dry rot—damage which very little urgent remedial work would be able to prevent. The purpose of the Clause is to allow a local authority the opportunity to carry out such work, if possible, when it wishes to prevent a building being demolished.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause read a Second time and added to the Bill.