§ Mr. Allasonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects the current revision of the lists of buildings of historic and architectural value to be complete.
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§ Mr. Greenwood:In about 15 to 20 years.
§ Mr. Allasonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what plans he has for the protection of buildings in conservation areas at present listed as grade III;
(2) what record will be kept of buildings of special architectural or historic interest, other than those on the stautory list, following the abolition of the grade III list.
§ Mr. Greenwood:The Historic Building Council's Listing Committee recommended that, as the statutory lists of buildings of architectural or historic interest are reviewed, buildings in Grade III should either be included in the statutory lists or brought to the attention of local planning authorities for inclusion in lists of buildings of local importance to be kept by them. Discussions have already been arranged with representatives of the local authorities on how this recommendation might be implemented. These discussions will include consideration of how local planning authorities might make use of the proposed local lists in the exercise of their planning functions, both generally and in conservation areas. Local planning authorities are already required by the Civic Amenities Act, 1967, to pay special attention to the need to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of such areas.
§ Mr. Allasonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many investigators of historic buildings there are; how many vacant posts there are; and what proposals he has for increasing the number.
§ Mr. Greenwood:Nineteen, of whom nine were added in March, 1968 and March, 1969. There are no vacancies and I have no proposals at present for further increasing the number.
§ Mr. Robert Cookeasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has for publishing in a permanent format the list of buildings of historic and architectural interest as the revision of the lists proceeds.
§ Mr. Greenwood:I hope that from about July, 1970, onwards statutory lists, 84W issued for each local authority area as it is reviewed, will be in a new form. The statutory lists will include gradings and descriptions of buildings in the general form previously included in the provisional lists, and where appropriate a general introduction describing the buildings of the area as a whole. Each list will be bound in a simple, standard form. A copy of each list will continue to be placed on deposit for inspection by the public, at the offices of local authorities, and will also be supplied to the national and local preservation societies and to newspapers circulating in the area. Arrangements for the sale of lists to the public generally are under consideration.
§ Mr. Robert Cookeasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has taken or is considering steps to give priority to the revision of the official lists of buildings of historic or architectural interest in conservation areas.
§ Mr. Greenwood:Priority in the revision of lists is given to historic towns and those areas where unrevised lists are most out-of-date or otherwise in need of revision. Because of the geographical spread of conservation areas, which now number nearly 900 in England, it would be impracticable to give priority to them as such. However, in addition to conservation areas in the priority areas mentioned, opportunity is taken to revise the lists in any conservation area which is being surveyed for a town scheme under the Historic Buildings Council.