English Heritage asked to ease controls
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Your support makes all the difference.ENGLISH Heritage, the conservation body, has come under growing pressure from the City to relax its approach to planning restrictions on listed buildings in the Square Mile.
Michael Cassidy, the chairman of the policy and resources committee of the City Corporation, last night asked Jocelyn Stevens, the chairman of English Heritage, to support a code, drawn up by the Corporation, the local authority for the Square Mile.
The code, which is designed to encourage occupation of historic buildings, reflects concern that banks and other firms have become reluctant to occupy listed sites because they are worried about strict planning controls.
English Heritage's London region is responsible for scrutinising applications for changes to listed buildings. It has sometimes been criticised for being bureaucratic. As part of his wider programme of reforms, Mr Stevens has suggested farming out this role to local authorities.
The Corporation, which owns several historic sites including Guildhall and the Mansion House, is concerned that worries about planning restrictions will result in historic buildings being left empty.
Separately, the Corporation is considering changing the terms of its property leases in an attempt to make City of London office space more attractive.
Mr Cassidy has formed a wide- ranging working party to consider changes to rent review and confidentiality clauses and other aspects of property leases.
Its first meeting is today and Mr Cassidy hopes it will produce proposals by the summer.
The Corporation, which is a large freeholder in the City, has taken this initiative as part of a wider programme designed to address the problem of the City's empty buildings. About 20 per cent of office space is unoccupied.
The Corporation is concerned that the financial services industry, traditionally the main occupant of City property, will not occupy the empty space unless leases are made more attractive.
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