March brought news of yet more administrative burdens for the UK industry.
If there was one thing the beleagured UK demolition industry didn’t need during this past year, it was a whole new bureaucratic obstacle to the demolition process. But, as we are constantly reminded, what the industry wants and what it gets are generally somewhat different.
And so the news that developers would be required to seek additional planning permission prior to demolition of certain buildings probably came as a surprise to just about nobody.
The change followed a landmark ruling in the high court involving heritage body Save Britain’s Heritage and the secretary of state for Communities and Local Government. The case involved a decision by Lancaster City Council to authorise the demolition of the historic Mitchell’s Brewery building without prior approval. The building has since been listed but the case has remained live as Save Britain’s Heritage sought a landmark ruling, following an initial defeat in the High Court last year.
The verdict introduces new controls over demolitions of buildings and structures under UK planning law.
