Historic England recently released figures showing that the number of conservation officers in local authorities has fallen for yet another year. It’s been on a decline for many years, falling 36% since 2006.
In the wake of this worrying announcement, The Listed Property Owners’ Club (LPOC) has decided to increase the number of independent conservation officers and conservation experts at their national event in Olympia London, The Listed Property Show, in a bid to support owners and provide much needed access to these specialists. This team will be led by Peter Bell, in-house Conservation Advisor at LPOC, and will provide owners and potential owners the opportunity to receive independent and impartial advice on their issues, plans and ideas – all for FREE.
What does the decline in conservation specialists mean for listed building owners?
The continued fall in conservation officers in local authorities has meant that owners have less experts to turn to for help and advice, and in turn the time these officers have is limited. Due to strained resources a number of local authorities are now also charging a fee each time an owner wants to speak to a conservation officer – this fee can be as much as £400! It is worth noting that listed building owners are trying to do right by their homes by seeking advice before making necessary changes to their properties – there are strict laws in place to deter unauthorised works that could be damaging to the fabric of a listed building. The process of obtaining listed building consent can be daunting; owners looking to follow procedures set in place by the Government are left not knowing where to turn, and local authority help is dwindling.
LPOC’s commitment to empowering listed building owners and potential owners means providing them with the chance to have these important one-to-one conversations is top of the agenda for the 2018 show. More independent conservation officers on hand, combined with a dedicated programme of talks and over 150 of the country’s leading suppliers and products for listed buildings, means the 2018 Listed Property Show is not to be missed. It is a vital resource for all listed property owners.
For more information on The Listed Property Show and to book tickets, visit the website.
