April News 2014

There have also been some interesting developments with changes to Heritage Protection and Permitted Development this month. 

Some unlisted Redundant Agricultural buildings can now be used as domestic dwellings, without the need for planning approval, as the change of use comes within the new permitted development rights. As most agricultural buildings are not listed in their own right, and planning case law says that agricultural barns should not be considered curtilage listed if they were still in farm use at the time of listing, then this change will have a massive impact on the conversion of barns to domestic, which has been heavily resisted by planning policy in the South East for many years. There are many restrictions, but here is a link to the new permitted development order Class MB:  http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/564/article/5/made 

They have also brought in a number of changes for Listed Buildings under the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013: 

The three sets of regulations contained in this document prescribe procedures relating to Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreements, Local Listed Building Consent Orders and Certificates of Lawfulness of Proposed Works, all of which aim to streamline the Listed Building Consents process. 

Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreements will provide a single consent mechanism through which a local authority, owner and any other interested party (such as an occupier or person involved in the management of the building) are able to agree specified works that can be carried out on a Listed Building over a period of time. Local Listed Building Consent Orders will allow local authorities to grant (via an order) general Listed Building Consent for specified works carried out on certain Listed Buildings in their area. The order may grant consent subject to conditions. The proposed regulations prescribe the procedure that a local authority must follow before entering into a partnership agreement or issuing an order. 

Certificates of Lawfulness of Proposed Works will also reduce the need for Listed Building Consent applications by allowing owners and developers to obtain formal confirmation that the works they propose to undertake will not require Listed Building Consent. This will apply where the works do not affect the special architectural or historic interest of the building. The proposed regulations prescribe the application and appeals process associated with issuing these certificates.

• Awards News : Kay Pilsbury Thomas Architects and their repair and conversion of Finchingfield Guildhall has won the RIBA East Conservation Award and also RIBA East Design Award. 

• The awards were presented at Downing College Cambridge. The whole team were there to pick up the awards including:
• Fairhurst Ward Abbotts and the site foreman Tony Loades. 
• Jackie Bargman,  Des Fahy, Sir Tim Ruggles-Brise and Jeremy Toynbee from the Finchingfield Guildhall Trust, 
• Kay and Sibyl from Kay Pilsbury Thomas Architects, 
• Trevor Groom, Quantity Surveyor from Press and Starkey 
• John Farrow, Structural Engineer from AFP
•  Radwinter Church has received a grant to repair their church clock!  This work is starting on-site next month. 
•  The Tenders have been returned for Pleshey House of Retreat, owned by the Diocese of Chelmsford, for the construction of a new Orangery and Assessable Bedroom Suite. The contract will be awarded this month and construction will start on-site next month. 
• Following consultation, Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent applications have been submitted for a family room extension to a farmhouse in Cambridgeshire. The house is also being completely renovated and there is to be a new ancillary building.
• We are in consultation with a Contractor with a view to starting works on site at Galleywood Church within the next two months.  These works include constructing a new Youth Room in the North transept; re-locating the organ to the rear tower, which involves the design of some new oak screens, and re-building of the organ.
• The design of some new high street houses in Waltham Abbey is currently with the Planner for consultation, prior to submission for Planning Permission.
•  Designs for internal alterations and an extension to a C.17^th thatched cottage in South Cambridgeshire have been prepared, and are due to be submitted for Listed Building and Planning Permission.
•  An exciting design for a new WC and Servery within Saffron Walden church is at feasibility sketch stage, and is currently with the DAC and English Heritage for further consultation to approve the design in principle within this sensitive Grade I Listed building which dates from the C.13^th.
•  A hall house in Essex is currently in the rectification period, due for Final Completion in the summer.
• Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent applications have been submitted for an extension to provide additional kitchen and bedroom space for a small farm cottage in Essex.
•  Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent has been approved for a new swimming pool and leisure outbuilding in the grounds of an Arts and Crafts house in Essex.  The design is contemporary, using oak shingles and boarding, with a slate roof and modern glass screens and doors to complement the historic house and harmonise with the garden.
•  Plans for the internal alterations and re-building of a rear range to an in-line C.16^th Hall House in Essex are ready for submission for Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent.
•   Meanwhile, we are currently awaiting Listed Building Consent for internal alterations to another all C.16^th Hall House in Essex.
•  The construction drawings for a rear extension to a C.19^th house in Essex are currently being prepared, with a view to starting on site in the summer.
• The proposal drawings are complete for the conversion of a threshing barn in Little Canfield to a Community Café, run by Local Food and More.  This exciting project, run by volunteers, is open every weekend, selling food they have produced and prepared locally.  Check out their website: http://www.localfoodandmore.org.uk/
• We are awaiting the Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent decision for the conversion of a large C.17^th Essex threshing barn to a furniture workshop.
• The concept designs are complete for a glass extension and garage re-modelling at a pretty old vicarage in Essex.
• Designs are being drawn up for a new indoor swimming pool and leisure building extension to a Grade II Listed C.18^th villa in Essex.
• An application for Planning Permission has been submitted for a two-storey extension to a modern house in Essex, and for conversion of an outbuilding to an annexe.
•  Plans for the construction of a new garage building adjacent to a thatched cottage in Cambridgeshire are currently in for Planning Permission.
• Designs for a new pool house in the grounds of a C.18^th manor in Hertfordshire are being progressed.
• The building works at Finchingfield Guildhall are in the rectification period and are due for Final Completion in the summer.
•  Designs are being drawn for the remodelling of a farm house in Epping.
• We are due to consult with English Heritage and the Conservation Officer over proposals to extend and remodel a Grade II* Listed farmhouse that was once C.12^th domestic buildings in Norfolk.  
• The building works at a Grade I Listed Building in Suffolk are in the rectification period, and are due for Final Completion in the summer.
• We met the Conservation Officer to discuss proposals to convert and renovate a watermill/house to create a spectacular family home within this disused mill building.
• Sibyl and Monica have visited some very exciting projects during April, and we hope to bring you more news of these throughout the year.