Appealing a Conservation Officers decision

[Flyfisher]

The tone of challenging them, telling them what you want to do as it’s ’your’ house etc doesn’t work at all. It’s very much a suggestive listening game. Read the signs. The old adage goes something like, ask them what would be best for the building and for their input, don’t tell them yours.

I can definitely second that, albeit with only one example.

Before we took on our very dilapidated G2* house I met with the responsible CO to discuss our plans and what we'd like to achieve. In fact we had more than one on-site meeting to refine ideas - some ours and some his - before deciding to go for it. Four successful LBC applications and about 17 years later things are pretty much finished and I've lost count how many times our CO has visited over the years, not to mention all the emails. He even helped to successfully argue the case for a kitchen extension with English Heritage (as it was back then).

I realise I'm just a sample of one, but it does at least show that the system CAN work with the right approach. I certainly have no complaints.

 

[Sarah Ship]

You’re very lucky that your CO was able to visit your property in advance & establish a dialogue. We would have hoped for similar but unfortunately we were told pre-lim visits weren’t possible due to staff storages (which has also led to little communication going forward).

 

[Cubist]

While in the throes of acquiring this place the CO agreed to come out to meet us and discuss what few thoughts we had then and has also come along on several occasions since. The informal approach tends to work better in my view and can help to smooth the way around some of the knottier issues.

 

[Flyfisher]

You’re very lucky that your CO was able to visit your property in advance & establish a dialogue. We would have hoped for similar but unfortunately we were told pre-lim visits weren’t possible due to staff storages (which has also led to little communication going forward).

That's very true, in hindsight, though I didn't realise at the time how fortunate it was.

Back in 2007 when we started along this path, this forum was one of the first places I looked for help and advice and I found it in abundance, including the advice to contact the local council CO. Things went so well that I thought it was the norm for listed property owners but from other posts on here over the years I learned that it wasn't the case everywhere. As our project progressed, I started to worry about our CO moving on to another area and being replaced with someone less approachable, available, knowledgeable and helpful. Fortunately that never happened and I'm not planning any further works, other than routine maintenance, or envisioning moving anywhere else until I pop my clogs.

It may be my property at this moment in time but it wasn't mine for the past 450 years or so and it will pass on to someone else in the future. All I hope is that during my brief part in its history I've helped to ensure it will endure for many generations of future owners, or custodians as we should really be called. It's an important distinction and one that can help new 'owners' understand and appreciate that the responsibilities of a CO are predominantly towards the property and to help ensure its well-being in the future.