Mr. Gareth ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2002,Official Report, column 314W, how many of the properties (a) grant aided through the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Local Government Act 1985 and (b) aided by the Heritage Lottery fund allow some public access. [68299]
§ Dr. Howells129 properties in London have received grants administered under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Local Government Act 1985. There is no power under this legislation to require public access as a condition of the grant. These grants are for external repairs and improvements which can be viewed by the public from the street. Some buildings do allow an element of public access by virtue of their function, such as places of worship and shops.
As part of the condition of grant, the Heritage Lottery Fund requires that grantees ensure that the general public has appropriate access to properties and that no one is unreasonably denied access.
Mr. Gareth ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2002.Official Report, column 315, for what reason there is no automatic access requirement when properties are grant-aided under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Local Government Act 1985. [68300]
§ Dr. HowellsThe grants English Heritage is empowered to give under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Local Government Act 1985 are wide in scope. They are a transfer of responsibility from the former Greater London Council to English Heritage, along with the special statutory powers that the former696W Greater London Council held. There is no power under this legislation to require public access conditions. The grants are normally given for listed buildings at risk where they make a contribution to the appearance of a conservation area and where the works can be seen by the public from the exterior.